How’s grit different from work ethic? I don’t think any of us meant just doing it, as long as it takes, to get the minimum for a check mark. (Clock in/Clock out, pick up your paycheck.) Or that it only factors when you don’t hit the mark you wanted.
And what blossom just noted is similar to first cut in admissions. All the apps get looked at. Yes, if you won’t graduate from hs or some other fatal issues, you hit an insurmountable wall. But solid kids will be sent for second (and any subsequent) reads. Yes, it’s more than stats, in holistic.
How do you suppose they can predict who will matriculate? What models? This idea WUSTL arbitrarily rejects great kids because they’re great enough for another tippier tippy top is bogus. Yes, you need a good Why Us. You need to have done some self-matching. You can’t tell Yale you’re excited about volunteering at Mass General. Or describe programs X doesn’t offer. Or, go generic. (I’m mostly talking about top schools, not those working just to get enough kids to make a class.)
Sure, this is talked about on CC, but most of that is speculation.
Of course, Inst Research looks at trends. But you think they can reach down and predct your kid will enroll?