This has been done in the past by way of donations, but it appears that people are using more desperate measures now.If putting your kid through extensive tutoring and test prep classes doesn’t work, just throw money directly at the problem.
I am totally not surprised at this scandal. As evidence continues to mount left and right that this country is turning into an oligarchy where inherited wealth, access, and privilege, including access to Ivy League colleges, gives people a huge leg up in life, the logical next step for people with money is to start bribing their way into the Ivies. If putting your kid through extensive tutoring and test prep classes doesn’t work, just throw money directly at the problem.
Never stopped him before. He's the king of projection and denial.
Favoritism for children of wealthy alumni and wealthy potential donors has always existed. Many top colleges have something called a Parents Committee - parents of current students and alumni who make donations and fundraise for the school. There was an article in the NY Times some years ago (maybe early 2000s?) that talked about this practice in detail - current committee members would recruit/recommend potential future parent members, i.e. high net worth families with kids seeking admission to the school, and of course the kids would get in. And yes, colleges do give preference to legacies - children of alumni or siblings of current students or alumni, particularly if the alum is a donor. But the kid does have to be reasonably credible, otherwise they place him/her on the waiting list and call it a day. I remember a kid in my high school class whose father was a Princeton alum, he applied and there was much talk behind his back that it wouldn't be fair if he got in and [much smarter/more accomplished students who were applying] didn't. He got waitlisted.
At the end of the article:
There are many factors that boost one's chances for Ivy League admission.
A bit like fake medical conditions so that athletes can take medication that would be otherwise banned for their competitors (who didn’t have medical conditions and don’t fake them either)?It’s all pretty awful, but an angle I think is especially despicable, is that they arranged for fake disabilities for kids so they could have accommodations on standardized tests.
Can I tell you about all the hassle, and expense, and general extra effort that goes into supporting a kid with dysgraphia? And how hard it is already to get accommodations legitimately?
I guess because it involves celebrities, this is news?
File it under the “no crap, Sherlock” for me.
My undergrad and law degree are from Ivies. Spousal unit’s BA and PhD are from Ivies. (The MA is from Oxford). My parents didn’t graduate high school; his father was career military. They didn’t take us for our money
Now granted it was a million gazillion years ago, but were folks at those schools who got in because mommy and daddy and granddaddy had money? well, hell to the yeah. Like poor pitiful working class me didn’t know that money provides like, access, even at 17? Uh, yeah.
The one thing I would say was that a million gazillion years ago you could, and did, flunk out. Based on grades. Just showing up and being your own sweet self would not get you through.
They were only too willing to narrow down the premeds somehow
And in spousal until’s 40 years at local large private university, he gave failing grades. To students who had not mastered the material. But showed up.
So that to me, would be news.....
there are goof offs in every generation
That wasn’t consequences, that was money
but Richelle could fail if she didn’t find the right basket weaving classes.......
Even when I was in high school I realized if you are mega rich Hollywood stars you will be able to buy your kids way into elite schools. I'm surprised this even made the news. That's just par for the course in college admissions for Hollywood stars kids as far as I'm concerned. 
