Wren, your kid might get rejected because a donor kid got accepted. In fact, given how widespread the problem is, your kid likely WILL get rejected by at least one college for that very reason, unless you don't apply in the US.

Remember also that these colleges have endowments that run into the billions. How many more millions do they really need?

This is why US college admissions won't be primarily about academic ability anytime soon. It's a money game, and it's about greed. Financial greed at the college and status greed among the parents. I say this as someone who's seen this process. It's gross.

It's also playing a role in the deterioration of standards at US colleges.