I have wondered this also. I know 2 families from Dallas who each have 2 kids currently at USC. All four of the kids are relatively smart but nothing out of the ordinary. I have always figured that moderate grades and the ability to write a healthy check would meet the 'stringent' USC admission standards. I have also assumed that being famous, or from a famous family, would go a long way toward admission. That 500k seems like it could have just been legitimately offered to the USC development office with a comment to the USC representative that they have a daughter who has applied and they are really excited for her to attend and it would have been taken care of. Just seems unnecessary to have gone down this path for USC. I'm guessing the girls are dumb as a box of rocks, maybe they just don't test well. ha ha. Even with that, I think they could have easily gotten them accepted with a legitimate gift to USC and a quick conversation.