This paper analyses the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal of America in detail, sorts out the criminal networks and fraudulent practice, and reveals the causes of corruption in the U.S. college admissions. It reflects on the American college admissions system, whichtends to be simplisticallypromoted as the standard approach for its much-cited advantages such as "multiple selection criteria" and "well-established social integrity system".The paper deeply uncovers the origin of such corruption in terms of both the internal institutional system and the external social environment. Firstly, the diversification of evaluation criteria hides power imbalance in the enrollment process. As a result, power restriction and balance in college enrollment management can be easily neglected under the slogan of "university autonomy". Secondly, over-reliance on social credit system rather than power of balance system, overconfidence in a system which relies heavily on moral self-consciousness, and lack of restriction in the operation system make power rent-seeking possible. Thirdly, the lack of information disclosure in the college enrollment process may lead to the lack of public supervision, creating the soil for exchange of benefits. Lastly, vested interests under money politics seek intergenerational continuity of superiority. Rich families in the U.S. may use their economic strength to obtain special pathways in college admissions, to make sure that their children gain competitive advantages over peers. In its ongoing college enrollment reform, China should learn the lessons of the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal of America. While the American college admissions practice is considered a model for its diversified criteria and comprehensive evaluation, particular attention should be paid to its potential corruption risks due to the loss of power restriction and balance. While expanding university autonomy, college enrollment policies should be in line with the national reality of societal development, attach paramount importance to power balance and supervision, and improve the system and mechanism so as to effectively curb corruption. Firstly, a college enrollment scheme should be constructed which follows the principle of equilibrium and separation of decision-making power, enforcement power, and supervision power. Based on the division of decision-making functions, executive functions, and supervision functions, an effective separation structure of the college enrollment powers could be built to ensure that the division of different departments and processes in college admissions is exactly clear and harmonious with each other. Therefore, a system dependent on power balance and restriction could be well established. Secondly, the system for prevention of interest conflict should be built. It is important to strengthen preventative education for admissions staff and clarify the moral and policy risks of power trading, so that the possibility of power rent-seeking could be reduced. Thirdly, the disclosure of college admissions information should be promoted. Disclosing non-confidential information of college admissions policies helps to break down information barriers, strengthen external restrictions and supervision, and therefore minimize the grey area for power rent-seeking and benefit exchange. Last but not least, any offenders in college admissions should be severely punished. It is crucial to strengthen legal education for examinees and inflict high-pressure punishments on illegal and criminal behaviors, in order to raise the cost of corruption and ensure fairness and justice in college admissions.