Consider the merits...

Imagine being a multi-millionaire, and in order to make sense of the fact that you have so much when so many people have nothing, your frame for the world becomes meritocratic. You have more because you worked harder, are smarter, are more deserving. If those poor people would just work harder, they could be as successful as you. Now imagine how heartbreaking it would be to have a kid who isn’t hard working enough or smart enough to get into college. Imagine the cognitive dissonance it must take to then betray your world-view to buy your children’s way into college. Now imagine you get caught and your hypocrisy is exposed to the world.

That must suck.