<p>I severely disagree with BearCub, my 4.0 GPA in all APs/honors classes/two years accelerated math and 1500/2300 did not get me into Cornell. I think its selectivity is very FIT-oriented, rather than academic-oriented.</p>
<p>BearCub:</p>
<p>I disagree as well. The numbers just don't support your conclusion. There are 35,000 high schools in the US alone and, needless to say, (hundreds?) of thousands more around the world. Thus, just in the US alone, there are 35,000 Vals, 35,000 Sals, 2-3 times that many football captains, drum majors, yearbook editors, etc., etc. There are just too many "smart" enough kids for them all to fit. And, of course, many top students target engineering or premed, so that is also limiting -- the Classics profs need someone to teach as well!</p>
<p>btw: that article you posted ignores the obvious hook: guaranteed full-pay international students; a virtual two-fer in the admissions process.</p>
<p>Thats not necessarily an "obvious hook" though, because intl students do not help get the colleges federal grant money.</p>