In a revelation beyond the Varsity Blues scandal, the University of Southern California (USC) has faced scrutiny for admitting affluent students as walk-on athletes in exchange for generous donations. One notable case involves Sarath Ratanavadi, a wealthy Thai energy and telecom executive, who sought admission for his son at USC a decade ago. The admissions officer described the son as a “mediocre student at best,” with grades that USC assessed as equivalent to four Ds and two Fs.
However, after Ratanavadi contributed $3 million to the university’s golf program, a special admissions committee designated for sports recruits granted the teenager a spot as a walk-on golfer. Months later, the golf coach at the time, Chris Zambri, communicated doubts about the son’s impact on the team’s performance but acknowledged Ratanavadi’s significant support for USC Athletics.
Admissions to USC are highly competitive, with only about 9% of undergraduate applicants accepted. Nonetheless, the university reportedly provided an alternative pathway for wealthy families like the Ratanavadis, with a much higher acceptance rate for applicants classified as walk-on athletes — estimated at 85% to 90%.
A spokesperson for Ratanavadi asserted that the donation was unrelated to his son’s admission and claimed that the family was unaware of any improper conduct within the university. Investigations into internal records revealed that various administrators utilized the admissions process intended for athletes to favor the children of prominent individuals who could make substantial donations, including those from the realms of real estate, finance, and professional sports.
The documents reviewed indicated that numerous applicants were misrepresented as potential walk-on athletes from 2008 to 2018. Despite having played sports in high school, many did not meet the elite standards of USC’s renowned athletic programs. Following their admission, a significant number of these alleged walk-ons did not appear on any team rosters.