<p>I wouldn’t say those things are “trumping” academic ability. To me, it would only be trumping if they were taking academically unqualified kids (or questionably qualified) over academically qualified kids just because they could play in the band or throw a football. I’d say instead it’s more that these schools attract a huge pool of applicants who are perfectly capable of performing academically at the desired level. Then it’s a question of deciding which of those kids to admit. Some of the AOs we talked to were quite candid about the fact that they weren’t necessarily looking for the very smartest kids. Rather, there’s a threshhold level of academic ability that you have to get over. But after that, other things come into play. Let’s say that optimally, a school would like to have kids who scored at the 92d percentile on the SSAT or higher. If they’re then deciding between two candidates, one of whom scored in the 99th percentile but has few other interests and one of whom “only” scored in the 94th percentile but is also a talented musician or athlete, then they’re going to take the second kid every day. And guess what? I’d rather that my kid went to the school that takes the smart, multi-faceted kids over the intensely focused on academics only kids.<br>
But I’ve digressed a long way from your original point, which is that it’s a lot harder to get into these schools if you need financial aid, which is clearly true. I have a sneaking suspicion that my son would not have gotten into the school that he did get into had we needed FA. We feel very fortunate. But I can imagine how hard it is for you as a parent to know that the thing that kept your child from getting into these schools was something totally out of your child’s (or your) control.</p>
<p>i totally agree.</p>
<p>I know athletes get in with pretty low SSATs like 70% at HADES schools. The average SSATs are 90%, but the range is large. 99% brainiacs make of for the 70% or less athletes to pull up the averages.</p>
<p>Don’t forget the PGs who arrive every autumn, filling the empty/weak spots on the football team! They are bigger, older, and smart. Hockey and basketball teams get a boost as well. Exactly where do they ‘count’ these PGs since they have already graduated from high school?</p>
<p>Schools have target class sizes, and many even have underclassman & upperclassman dorms. So I don’t think PG’s can take “spots” from freshman/soph/junior applicants.</p>