<p>Is it possible that if my friend and I had the exact same grades, sats, ecs, ect. That one of us gets accepted and the other does not?</p>
<p>yes… 10 char</p>
<p>how often does it occur? And what does it account on?</p>
<p>Happens all the time—except that of course no two applicants are EXACTLY alike. You’ll have different essays, and different teacher and GC recs, for one thing. You may have different levels of financial need, which could be a factor at need-aware schools (which is to say, most of them). Your socioeconomic status will either be the same or different; if the same, they might decide that admitting two of you doesn’t give them enough diversity; if different, they may have a preference for your category, or your friend’s, to balance out their diversity goals. </p>
<p>Then, too, there’s a certain randomness to it. They may have already admitted a bunch of people who in relevant respects are quite similar to you and your friend. The adcom gets to your application and someone says, “Well, we’ve admitted quite a few applicants with a similar profile; I think this one makes the cut.” Someone else objects that they’ve already admitted a bunch of people just like you and they don’t want an entire class made up of people just like you; but the admissions officer presenting your file advocates forcefully for you, and your file goes into the “admitted” pile over some grumbling. Then they get to your friend’s file and someone says, “OK, this is it, not another one; this is indistinguishable from the last one and a hundred others we’ve already admitted. Can’t we get some banjo pickers or Pacific Islanders or something, just to add some flavor to the class?” Your friend’s app goes into the “reject” pile. Or vice versa.</p>
<p>alright thank you. I was wondering because I am korean and was wondering because me playing soccer, deca, united nations, and going to yale asian american events helped a little or alot? enrolling into rutgers :)</p>
<p>Everything you do helps you. And don’t go for the traditional mindset that too many of our Korean parents teach us: “Do whatever helps you get into a good college.” Do something you feel passionate about, and it is bound to benefit you many folds.</p>