<p>HSMCCP- both of you are strong students, both of you have qualities that schools are looking for. The truth is that no one can tell you which one of you may appear stronger. Even if we all had access to both of your full applications to review, 50% would say you are stronger, and 50% would say your class mate is stronger. </p>
<p>Why? Because something about each of you would appeal to those reviewing the application. It could be your EC’s, it could be your classmates sense of humor or writing style. It could be something that you did not mention in your post. Anything can make one of you more appealing than the other in the eyes of an admissions person. </p>
<p>Why were you and your classmate deferred? Who knows. Why are students with lower stats than you and your classmate admitted? Also- who knows. It can be one of a 100 different little things that no student can plan for, but some students hit the mix “just right” for that year, earning them an invitation to enroll in that school. </p>
<p>Admissions to most colleges is not like a math test, where you plug in a formula and you get an answer. For some students, that is unfortunate. For other students, it is fortunate. This year, you fall into the unfortunate category at Harvard. </p>
<p>The good news is that there are literally hundreds of other colleges out there that do want you to attend their school.</p>