Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
After 16 months in a federal prison camp, William (Rick) Singer has had time to reflect on his role as the architect of a college-admissions bribery scheme that became known as Varsity Blues. The college consultant has apologized for concocting a plot that helped wealthy families, including some Hollywood celebrities, secure admission for their children to prestigious universities. But he isn’t slinking into the shadows. Singer says he’s already back in the consulting business. And he has come out of prison swinging, blasting the FBI, the college-admissions system, and anyone who might question the credentials of the students he represented.
Related Reading:
‘It’s an Aristocracy’: What the Admissions-Bribery Scandal Has Exposed About Class on Campus (chronicle.com/article/its-an-aristocracy-what-the-admissions-bribery-scandal-has-exposed-about-class-on-campus/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l1) (The Chronicle)
Higher Ed’s Bribery Scandal Is Decadent and Depraved. Here Are 8 Truly Tasteless Allegations (chronicle.com/article/higher-eds-bribery-scandal-is-decadent-and-depraved-here-are-8-truly-tasteless-allegations/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l2) (The Chronicle)
We, the Privileged Parents That Matter, Applaud the Netflix College-Admissions Scandal Doc (chronicle.com/article/we-the-privileged-parents-that-matter-applaud-the-netflix-college-admissions-scandal-doc?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l3) (The Chronicle)
Admission Through the ‘Side Door’ (chronicle.com/package/admission-through-the-side-door/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l4) (The Chronicle)
Guest:
William (Rick) Singer (idfuturestars.com/about) , college consultant
For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters (chronicle.com/collegematters) . We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
After 16 months in a federal prison camp, William (Rick) Singer has had time to reflect on his role as the architect of a college-admissions bribery scheme that became known as Varsity Blues. The college consultant has apologized for concocting a plot that helped wealthy families, including some Hollywood celebrities, secure admission for their children to prestigious universities. But he isn’t slinking into the shadows. Singer says he’s already back in the consulting business. And he has come out of prison swinging, blasting the FBI, the college-admissions system, and anyone who might question the credentials of the students he represented.
Related Reading:
‘It’s an Aristocracy’: What the Admissions-Bribery Scandal Has Exposed About Class on Campus (chronicle.com/article/its-an-aristocracy-what-the-admissions-bribery-scandal-has-exposed-about-class-on-campus/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l1) (The Chronicle)
Higher Ed’s Bribery Scandal Is Decadent and Depraved. Here Are 8 Truly Tasteless Allegations (chronicle.com/article/higher-eds-bribery-scandal-is-decadent-and-depraved-here-are-8-truly-tasteless-allegations/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l2) (The Chronicle)
We, the Privileged Parents That Matter, Applaud the Netflix College-Admissions Scandal Doc (chronicle.com/article/we-the-privileged-parents-that-matter-applaud-the-netflix-college-admissions-scandal-doc?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l3) (The Chronicle)
Admission Through the ‘Side Door’ (chronicle.com/package/admission-through-the-side-door/?utm_campaign=che-pcm-pd-ep-sn-varsity-blues&utm_medium=aud&utm_source=mgp&utm_content=25-05-27-slnk-e034-l4) (The Chronicle)
Guest:
William (Rick) Singer (idfuturestars.com/about) , college consultant
For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters (chronicle.com/collegematters) . We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
