This could be a concern for some, although it can be easily remedied in two ways. One, very very few students fail out of an Ivy nowadays. There are specially designed classes to get every admit through with a decent GPA in four years. The bottom quarter admits will not dwell on it too much as they will receive their Bs and B+s. I saw that UChicago published their lowest accepted ACT, it was almost a 20 composite! The second remedy is simply looking at the admissions statistics. If the median Brown ACT is 34 and you have a 34, you may or may not have gotten in without legacy status in that Brown could fill a class with only 35s and 36s. However, on paper you have earned a place. You surely are not an outlier.
I agree that the decisions are subjective but not arbitrary. Having met dozens of students at Brown (and dozens more from other elite schools) they all have similar academic stats and credentials. I am sure however there are kids with similar stats who have not gained admission so I understand the perception.
What I have noted however is that when talking to these kids who are at these schools it becomes apparent in most cases what trait, skill or characteristic differentiated them. The schools are building a “community” so while who provides the contribution desired is largely subjective the decisions are not arbitrary.
I think some of these characteristics or the capacity to stand out in a crowded and worthy crowd is why many of these kids who weren’t ED had multiple offerings.
I am not suggesting luck doesn’t play any part in the process but I don’t think it as random as people like to portray it. I don’t think it an efficient or perfect process but it is far from the lottery analogy that is often made.
OP if you get in your earned it and your achievements and ability to thrive and contribute to the Brown community will be what drove the decision.
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To insiders, the admission process is not arbitrary or random, but it looks arbitrary, random, and/or opaque to outsiders. Applicants in general, as well as their parents and most high school counselors, are outsiders, of course. Well connected prep school counselors may have some inside information, and may be able to better tell which of their students has a realistic chance of admission to any given highly selective private school, and directly their students to apply appropriately.
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This is true although less and less true each year with increasing retirements of old line private school counselors (and their counterparts in college admissions with whom they forged a connection). Top universities are increasingly refusing the “counselor calls” or shortening them a lot. Generally, what a prep school counselor can do is tell the college an applicant loves the university and will likely enroll for yield purposes. The persuasion game is not really on the table anymore, and admissions offices are so swamped they don’t inquire much of any borderline case whose application has unanswered gaps.
I guess one can say it’s a ‘lottery.’ If you happen to have developed that trait, skill, or characteristic that is desired by the school to round out the class, then you picked the winning ticket.
I think you misunderstood my comments and won’t engage in debate.
“Guess one can say it’s a ‘lottery.’ If you happen to have developed that trait, skill, or characteristic that is desired by the school to round out the class, then you picked the winning ticket.”
I am unaware of lotteries in which you can improve your odds through honing traits, skills or characteristics.
Please focus on the OP and refrain from debating the concept of lottery. Or any debate for that matter.
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In addition to traits, skills, and characteristics desired by the school to round out the class, there are attributes that are out of the applicant’s control.
For example, the school may have already admitted a sufficient number of applicants from a given state or country, and is looking to admit those from other geographies. Or maybe it has enough football players or chemistry majors or female violin players.
@jilyan32:
You have an impressive set of stats. All the best in however it works out for you.
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Update: I got deferred. Honestly, I am not upset. I know that the chances of getting in were very, very slim, and at the end of the day, I will make the most of wherever I go. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice so far as I have learned so much.
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You are mature and have a great attitude. Move on but be smart. Send in a letter of continued interest. Thank them for the chance to be reconsidered. Update them on any new changes (awards, what classes solidified your passion area this semester, maybe give them an update on grades, any new ECs, etc). About 2-3 paragraphs max. And let them know brown is still your top choice. Send about 2nd week of Jan. Upload to the portal and email to the AO.
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Sorry to hear about that. At least you gave it your best shot. Thanks for posting an update. You have a good mindset, and I wish you the best.
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