The case of a Chinese student in the middle of a US university scandal is raising questions for students and parents alike. Those, who always wish the best for their children, should pay special attention to such cases, especially to donations. CGTN's Gary Anglebrandt tells us why.  

Donations to schools are common in the U.S. They're supposed to support the school's operations and infrastructure, not provide a short-cut for entering prestigious universities.

The scandal has shaken the world of higher-ed in the US. But industry insiders still express confidence in the fairness of US universities.

CHEN SIYU, CUSTOMER MANAGER WHOLEREN EDUCATION "Regardless of the amount, the donation is not linked to the student's admission. Harvard University, for example, bars a person from being admitted to the school within two years of a donation."

But it's not just the temptation to give a son or daughter an edge that this case calls attention to. It also points to the risks of Chinese parents being taken advantage of by scammers, as more Chinese students study abroad. Chinese seem to have more trust if the agent company mentions that local people in the U.S. are involved in the business.

CHEN SIYU, CUSTOMER MANAGER WHOLEREN EDUCATION "Many agent companies will tell parents that they have contacts with the heads of the university, or they know people on the board of directors. In fact, the president of the university does have some ways to make recommendations, but they would not trade it for money. Because they are at the core of the university, they will protect its reputation as much as they can."

Around 360-thousand Chinese students enrolled in US universities for the 2017-2018 school year, and that's not likely to let up. But it seems more urgent than ever for them to better understand what they're getting into before venturing out. With Lu Sirui, Gary Anglebrandt, CGTN, BEIJING.