I've had fun with this but mostly just over the sheer stupidity of some rich folks.
Lori Loughlin calls up her attorney, Leopold Feckner (some of you will get this), and says:
"My daughter doesn't qualify for USC, but I have this guy who is going to ensure her SAT is high enough that she will get in with a scholarship. He's only charging me $500,000."
Leopold: "Lori, that's illegal. Just make a $200,000 donation to (name of something important), and the right people will make sure she gets into school. And remember to send me $1600 for the advice I just gave you."
A co-worker of mine about to retire just chuckles about this. He was once at the University of Houston and involved in scams with the football team to keep the players eligible. Cash payments for doing athlete work to keep them eligible and making sure to do it so the guy got a C and didn't arouse suspicion. He was even asked to take their exams for them, but he refused at that point. He said when he left college he took a pay cut - and he wasn't the only one.
The reality is that if your parents are "somebody" then places will make exceptions - without this.
This is in every realm of life folks. It always has been and always will be.
Every motel in Dallas can say that they don't have a room. But if the President of the USA shows up? They've got one.