<p>One way to check is to look for somewhat esoteric areas that have individual endowments or recent big $$ gifts. A friend's kid expressed an interest in just such a program at a top Ivy and was admitted without necessarily having credentials much different than those not admitted. The kid was actually interested in the area, and had a track record of interest. I would not think a sudden, unsubstantiated interest, would cut it.</p>
<p>I wonder what the % of Stanford acceptees who were accepted on their academic prowress independent of special hooks have 6 or more APs, and what the average number of APs this group has. I know a number of Stanford acceptees and all but one (a basketball recruit) was loaded with AP courses, and their academic profiles were stellar. Sometimes, I think when these college officials make this proclamations, what they are saying is not to think that loading up on the APs is any sign that you have a leg up in,since everyone is doing it that is applying. You better have something different, unusual and something the school thinks it wants.</p>
<p>beprepn:</p>
<p>I should have written that Stanford, which has an excellent math department, is trying to compete with other top programs such as Caltech, MIT, Harvard, Princeton and others, for top math students. But what people fail to remember is that Stanford is excellent across the board, yet attracts an inordinate number of students interested in math/science and a large proportion of these applicants are premed or prospective computer science majors. A student interested in history or East Asian studies or anthropology might have an easier time getting admitted and would receive a first-class education.</p>
<p>I find it disconcerting when the Dean of Admission at Stanford would use the phrase "......developing long-term recruitment strategies for the international market." I am seeing more and more of our universities being run as a commercial enterprise with "marketing strategies". At this rate students will be referred to as "clients". I suppose we professors will ultimately be viewed as sales persons.LOL.</p>