Varsity Blues | Setting the Standard | 3
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How does the episode open with Jane Buckingham’s soccer game and what does it reveal about her family’s ambitions?
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It's late two thousand sixteen at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, California. The afternoon sun hangs low over the soccer field, throwing long shadows across the sidelines. Jane Buckingham slides a pair of designer sunglasses over her eyes and claps as her fifteen year old son Jack kicks the ball downfield. Over the past two decades, Buckingham has built a successful career as a self-help author. Her series, The Modern Girl's Guide to Life, is a bestseller, and her advice on parenting and modern living has made her a familiar face on national television. Still, no matter how busy her life becomes, she is always determined to make time for her family. Jack is the Brentwood team's goalie, and he darts out of the penalty area to intercept a pass from the other team.
He gets there before the opposing forward and clears the ball. Buckingham calls out. Great job, Jack! Beside her, another mother leans in. He's a good goalie. I think he must have gotten the athletic jeans from his dad, though. The whistle blow us for halftime. Buckingham claps her hands.
Way to go, Bradwood. Keep going.
As the players jog toward their coach on the other side of the field, the mother next to Buckingham leans in again. So what schools is Jack looking at? Oh, we're not really thinking about college yet. Jack's only a sophomore. The woman blanks. Really? I mean, we're aware of it, uh, but it's still so early. Well, my youngest is a freshman and we just hired someone. Hired someone? What do you mean? A private college counselor? I I know it sounds ridiculous, but by junior year, half the good people will be booked, and then then you're scrambling. Buckingham shifts her weight, feeling suddenly uneasy. She spent years advising women on modern parenting, yet standing here feels like she's been let into a secret that everyone else already knew.
The woman smiles awkwardly. Oh, I'm sorry, I I don't want to tell Jane Buckingham how to parent. No, no, please do. Uh apparently Jane Buckingham missed a meeting. Uh which counselor are you using if you don't mind me asking? Well, there's a few we talked to, and and I have their numbers here if you'd like. Yes, thank you, that would be great. The woman pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts to the first name. She shows the screen to Buckingham. Now this one she's amazing. Her office is in Pasadena though. A bit of a nightmare of a drive. What about the other one? Where's he based? The woman tapped on her phone to pull up a second contact. Yeah, yeah, he's more flexible. He comes right to your house.
Real sweetheart. Nothing's too much trouble for him. Well, that sounds more like my kind of man. Can I get his number? Oh absolutely. Locky him takes out her own phone and types quickly. He really does home visits? Yeah, he's very hands-on, practically becomes part of the family. Well I'm definitely not driving across LA. Buckingham looks down at the phone again. Rick Singer, huh? Well, thank you. I'll give him a call this evening. As the second half of the soccer game gets underway, Jane Buckingham's concerns that she's let down her son begin to ease. This is what successful parents do. They gather information, they make decisions early, and they stay competitive. But Buckingham's decision to choose Rick Singer over another college counselor will be one she will come to regret.
Singer will certainly make her son's application competitive, but in time it will stand out for all the wrong reasons.
Hey, I'm Cassie DePeckel, host of Against the Odds from Audible Originals. In our latest series, it's 1910 and a train full of passengers is trapped in Washington's Cascade Mountains, with an avalanche headed straight for them. Listen to Against the Odds on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
How does the episode open with Jane Buckingham’s soccer game and what does it reveal about her family’s ambitions?
0:00–11:35
2
What prompts Jane Buckingham to contact Rick Singer and how does their conversation set up the cheating scheme?
11:35–21:20
3
How does Rick Singer explain the “side‑door” method for manipulating SAT scores?
21:20–32:57
4
What steps are taken to rig Sophia Huffman’s SAT and how is the money distributed?
32:57–42:32