Fraud frenzy? Chinese seek U.S. college admission at any price

So her parents paid three consultants $4,500 to fill out the application, write her personal essay and compose teacher recommendation letters.

They also arranged her visa and communicated with her prospective colleges -- eight ranked between 40 and 100 on the U.S. News & World Report College rankings.

"It would have been too much hassle if I had applied myself," says Zhang, which is not her real name.

In August, she'll start her undergraduate career with an open major at a Midwestern university, in the United States. She says she's unaware that her application could be considered fraudulent and even get her expelled.