Admissions controversies that rocked the college world

In "The Price of Admission," Daniel Golden reported that Charles Kushner, the New Jersey real estate developer and Jared Kushner's father, had pledged $2.5 million to Harvard University before Jared was admitted.

Golden spoke to administrators at Kushner's high school, who remembered him as a mediocre student. However, a spokeswoman for Kushner Companies told Golden that there was no connection between Charles Kushner's gift and Jared Kushner's admission.

The University of Illinois was accused of admitting students with political connections over students who were more qualified. The scandal led to the resignation of president Joseph B. White, who denied that he favored applicants with political clout, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

In 2018, the New York Times reported that a small school in Louisiana, whose students were mostly black and working class, had made up information about student achievements to get them into elite colleges. One student interviewed by the Times had no idea the school had lied; others were instructed to lie on their own applications.

The Landrys, the couple who founded the school, denied fabricating student stories.