Academic Index: Fact or Fiction?

<p>According to A is for Admission, academic index is used by all Ivy League schools. Some information for those not aware with the formula. AI= [(CR + W + Math)/3 ]+ [(SAT IIs) / number of SAT IIs taken] + rank variable.
This is the method Ivies use to rank the students, according to the aforementioned book. However, since I have encountered many people who denounce its existence, I'd like to pose some questions to be answered:
[list=a]
Does it actually exist?
[<em>] To what extent can it affect one's admission?
[</em>] What if you are in a small school that ranks? Does that automatically reduce your chances of admission?
[li] Do SATs really matter that much, even though colleges proclaim other things?[/li][/list]</p>

<p>They use it to admit athletes.</p>

<p>I never recall reading that. On the contrary, the admissions officer in the book said that they use it overall! Are you sure it's just for athletes? Could you perhaps give me a link?</p>

<p>It was originally devised for athletes.</p>

<p>If you are at a small school, then there's a formula for converting your gpa to a CRS number. It's usually better if you're at a small school to convert your gpa to that CRS, and better from a large school to provide a rank.</p>

<p>Ok, at this</a> site it says that the AI was originally used to rank athletes, but now "has become a sort of shorthand for ranking students."</p>