The college admissions scandal broke news on Tuesday, March 13. This is the biggest college admissions scandal in U.S history. Families were recorded by the FBI through a court-approved warrant. The scandal revealed unfair advantages to students who come from wealthy families and attend elite schools. As of March 13, it is estimated that about 50 or more parents, coaches and students were involved in the scandal. It’s appalling to see people abuse the education system, and it brings up questions about the application process. Many people on social media have had reactions such as shock and outrage but some were not surprised. This scandal reveals how college admissions take away from students who truly and authentically deserve admission into elite colleges. This scheme makes you wonder: how many other people were, and are, involved? 
This news can potentially tarnish the credibility of an institution. It reveals the disadvantages working against people who come from lesser means within society and are told to work hard to achieve success. As the investigation continues, I have started to question whether the college we go to really matters that much. Why is it so important to get into an elite school? Is it because of image, or is it because a student genuinely wants to go to that school? Of course, every student is different. But, families are willing to pay thousands, and even millions of dollars, for just admission into top-tier universities. Top-tier schools such as Harvard, Stanford and Columbia may not always fit a student’s values and interests; they are much more a symbol of status.
A student has to figure out what is important to them and what they want out of school. Such wants may include happiness, expression, creativity, determination and personal fulfillment. There are other personal factors that a student has to consider too, such as financial aid, distance, cost and school culture. There are more factors to a school than just its prestige. 
Personally, one of the reasons that I came to the University of Massachusetts Boston was the diversity of this campus and feeling comfortable on campus. I could envision myself thriving and learning more about myself and my education. This is why it’s important to keep in mind other factors than just the eliteness factor of a university. After all, there is no promise to success; it is what you make of the school.
The implications of this scandal go deeper than just wealthy people paying to get into top universities; it reveals the deeper reality of inequality. It is a known fact that your zip code and where you go to school, in addition to how well you do in high school, has an effect on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. People who have a higher socioeconomic status have the means to pay for preparation for these tests, tutors for classes, and know the loopholes of how to get into a good school. Meanwhile, lower- and middle-income individuals don’t have the means of paying for a building or putting down thousands of dollars to cheat their children into and through an elite school.