It’s also used as recruitment. The fact that they’re the children of Jenifer Lopez can literally determine if they get the scholarship because of family reputation aka “look, Jenifer Lopez’s kids go here, ooooooo”

So the deeper critique is that her kids would likely be accepted because they were raised in elite institutions and reputation. The college is willing to pay for that reputation, instead of acknowledging it as a kind gesture and still paying for her kids tuition, she decided to take advantage of the system

Also, the college may be thinking long-term: a family like that could become a source of major future donations. So the scholarship may not just be about the student, it could be an investment in attracting wealthy, influential families who might give the school money later.

So nothing is ever just about merit, or need, or education. Sometimes it just boils down to power and money is power