<p>My HS GC recounted how one elite university rejected everyone applying one year sometime in the mid-'80s because the previous year, every student who was admitted turned down their offer which really ticked their adcoms off. </p>
<p>The GC did this to reduce the likelihood there would be a repeat and its negative consequences for younger classes after we graduated. </p>
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<p>Not only do well, but perceived to fit in well with the given school culture. </p>
<p>The latter was a key issue in why in the mid-'90s and before, Princeton had a widespread reputation of favoring private prep school graduates over public school graduates…including public magnets like the one I attended. </p>
<p>Another commenter on a past thread mentioned the history behind that and how this changed when a succeeding adcom made it a point to publicly state the need to admit more students from public schools…especially public magnets. </p>
<p>Then again, other colleges may be more willing to admit students who don’t fit a given college campus’ culture to ensure greater intellectual or social diversity. </p>