<p>beyphy,</p>
<p>Thank you for your great reply. I think, again, the tail wagging the dog is the issue. The most selective schools get the most attention.
Whether I am right about this or not I cannot be sure. </p>
<p>I would propose that someone who knows enough about analytics to volunteer and do a survey of CC. I will see if I can find someone if I can get the go ahead from the powers that be. I have lots of computer science guys who would do this.</p>
<p>Just how many threads and comments concern the 5% of schools that are impossible to predict wrt admission would be the question? Or is there another you think would be more useful?</p>
<p>This would help quantify what is going on here, and I think serve to be a microcosm of what goes on in the world today of admission.</p>
<p>Perhaps, if it is clear that way too much attention is given to this tiny group, there might be a push to encourage visitors and responders to avoid, whenever possible, entering the fray. If it is virtually impossible for anyone on here to predict with certainty who will get into Princeton (or any very selective school) why not make this a part of the ethos on CC? Forget chancing and advice for the top 5%. The site would be serving the vast majority more usefully instead of responding to things that are too unpredictable to be meaningful? Utilitarian argument philosophically.</p>
<p>Just a thought. Not much thought behind it so please don’t pound its flaws too strongly.</p>
<p>I thank you for your willingness to share your insight. Again, I am struck at how much time and effort people put in to helping people here.</p>