The Chinese student whose billionaire parents paid $6.5 million to college admission scandal mastermind Rick Singer claimed in 2017 that 'hard work' got her into Stanford and not her wealthy family.

In a lengthy YouTube video Yusi 'Molly' Zhao said the admissions officers 'have no idea who you are' when they accept you into the prestigious university, adding she was 'tested into Stanford through my own hard work'.

But it has since emerged her father, Tao Zhao, the co-founder of multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company Shandong Buchang, made the huge payment to Singer who ultimately presented her as a sailing recruit to help guarantee her admission.

Wearing a white blouse and talking directly to the camera in the summer she began her freshman year the now expelled Zhao said: 'Some people think, 'Didn't you get into Stanford because your family is rich?

'It's actually not true. The admission officers had no idea who you are at all. Plus, I got scholarship money, which will cover my tuition.

'I tested into Stanford through my own hard work.'

Yusi 'Molly' Zhao said the admissions officers 'have no idea who you are' when they accept you into the university, adding she was 'tested into Stanford through my own hard work'

Zhao's billionaire parents paid $6.5 million to college admission scandal mastermind Rick Singer but she said 'hard work' got her into Stanford and not her wealthy family

Zhao's student profile has been taken down at Stanford and an email to her school account was not returned to DailyMail.com. Federal prosecutors have since sent a letter to Zhao informing her she is a possible target of their investigation

She added: 'A lot of people told me, 'You still want to get into Stanford, but, look, the entry rate for it is just four percent — just forget it.'

Zhao claims in the 90 minute long video that her first ACT score was unimpressive but after a year of hard work she retook and got a score of 33 out of 36.

'Based on my experience of study, I want to tell you that really anyone can do it. 'I'm not the kind who was born with a very high I.Q. or who can score 33 or 36 in an exam just like that. But I made my way up step by step, through my hard work.

'It demands not only that you're a good student, but also that you have personality. You need to have a special skill.

'If my teachers knew that I was admitted to a top-notch university in the world, I bet they'd be shocked,' she said.

William 'Rick' Singer leaves Boston Federal Court in March after he was charged with racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice

Neither Zhao nor her parents have been charged over the scandal but The LA Times reports that federal prosecutors have since sent a letter to Zhao informing her she is a possible target of their investigation.

Zhao's mother said she was duped into believing the sum was a charitable donation and the money was going towards scholarships for needy students.

Singer has already pleaded guilty to working with corrupt coaches, university administrators and exam monitors to get the children of wealthy families into prestigious colleges.

The $25 million scam, which was revealed by US prosecutors earlier this year, has seen some 50 people charged including Hollywood actors and industry CEOs.

On Friday, Hong Kong-based lawyers for Zhao's mother released a statement on her behalf in which she confirmed the payment - the largest known sum in the college admissions scandal - was made.

But she said that Singer had led her to believe it was a legitimate donation that would go towards Stanford's staff salaries and scholarship program.

Tao Zhao, the co-founder of multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company Shandong Buchang, made the huge payment to Singer who ultimately presented her as a sailing recruit

In a 2015 interview father, Zhao Tao, pictured with the president and first lady, said: 'I really look down on those kids who don't rely on their own abilities'

'The donation is in the same nature as those that many affluent parents have been doing openly to prestigious universities,' the statement read, adding they had made it a month after their daughter was accepted into Stanford.

'Since the matters concerning Mr Singer and his foundation have been widely reported, Mrs Zhao has come to realise she has been misled, her generosity has been taken advantage of, and her daughter has fallen victim to the scam,' it added.

A reporter from The New York Times who visited the family's home in an ultra-wealthy district on the outskirts of Beijing this week said a Ferrari, a Tesla, a Bentley and a Land Rover could be seen parked outside a California-style mansion.

DailyMail.com learned that Stanford was quick to act when they learned about the scandal and quickly expelled Molly in late March, according to multiple sources with ties to the college.

Zhao's student profile has been taken down at Stanford and an email to her school account was not returned to DailyMail.com.

Molly's family met Singer through a Morgan Stanley money manager. In a 2015 interview father, Zhao Tao, said: 'I really look down on those kids who don't rely on their own abilities.

'If I come across one, I give them a dressing down right away. I just can't stand that type.'