<p>So after listening to the Amherst college admissions process clip on NPR today, I was intrigued by the sort of 'random' process the applicants' transcript went through. I was wondering how many "average" admitted students there are at HYPSM and other universities of high prestige (even though none of them are average in the first place since they are applying to such schools). All of them can't be 2400s, 4.0, Siemens/Intel finalists, amazing essays, difficult background/past, passionate about their main EC enough to astound the AdComs, athletes, etc.</p>
<p>Even though there are probably lots of applicants that have at least one or more of those ^^^^ I have listed, how many 'average' (3.8, top 5%, 2100, few leadership positions, couple ECs, shows devotion, 200 volunteer hours, good essay and recs, etc) admits make up the student body?</p>
<p>I guess no one would actually know I would like to hear some thoughts, anyone? PS I think there is a very similar thread to this but can't seem to find it...</p>
<p>If your question is how many admitted students have around 2100 SAT and 3.8 UW GPA, then I would suggest there is a very large contingent. You need only look at the midpoint SAT scores of enrolled freshman at the top schools, to see that the hurdle is not insurmountable:</p>
<p>California Inst of Tech 2263
Yale University 2225
Princeton University 2218
Harvard University 2203
MA Inst of Technology 2188
University of Chicago 2188
Washington Univ in St Louis 2180
Columbia University 2173
Northwestern University 2158
Stanford University 2150
University of Pennsylvania 2150
Dartmouth College 2150
Duke University 2150
Brown University 2128
Cornell University 2083</p>
<p>However, if you are asking what percentages of admitted students have just good essays, or just a couple of EC’s (at least unimpressive ones), then I would suggest the numbers are significantly fewer, perhaps non-existent if not an URM, athlete, etc. The differences at this level of school are clearly powerful stats along wih the subjective factors: essay responses, EC’s, recs.</p>
<p>Thanks Hinsdale!
I was just curious since all of those colleges look for EXCEPTIONAL students; but their whole student body can’t ALL be amazing at everything. I guess a lot of it’s luck…</p>
<p>I still think an unhooked applicant (white, non-athlete, non-legacy, non-development case, non feeder-prep school etc), needs pretty spectacular stats.</p>
<p>Data is from the CDS (common data set) released by each of the schools every year (you can also find it in the college search function of CC under “school facts”). Although the list I posted above was prepared a couple months ago and they have since released the most current CDS and updated the stats. So below is the more current midpoint SAT scores (of the 25% - 75% range) of enrolled freshman at:</p>
<p>California Inst of Tech 2277
Harvard University 2225
Princeton University 2225
Yale University 2225
MA Inst of Technology 2217
University of Chicago 2210
Washington Univ in St Louis 2187
Columbia University 2180
Stanford University 2172
Dartmouth College 2165
Northwestern University 2157
University of Pennsylvania 2150
Duke University 2142
Brown University 2135
Cornell University 2090</p>
<p>Very few to none will be the sort of average you described. Every accepted student brings something to the table, and the only way to demonstrate that is by being exceptional in some way.</p>