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<p>Good question. Admissions processes are rarely divulged by the University. That information you were privy to at Oregon is interesting. That said, the way Oregon does their admissions is *likely *how most schools, especially the top schools, do their admissions. They just can’t admit it though because then they’d get fewer applicants, which means a greater acceptance rate, which looks bad for “prestige” and “selectivity.” I bet if you called each school you still wouldn’t get a straight answer. Another reason they wouldn’t admit to using that process is because there are always special cases and exceptions. Ultimately, I do think there’s such thing as a “no” pile at the most selective schools. Nobody knows however, so the best approach is to put your best foot forward but don’t expect anything in return. </p>
<p>On a sidenote;
I know that at UCLA undergraduate admissions, the way it works is that 1 person reads your personal statement. If they like it, they pass it to someone else. If that person likes it, 1 last person has to approve it before they make their final decision. So at UCLA undergrad you have to get through AT LEAST 3 people who like your statement. I don’t know where this fits in with GPA/SAT stats, however.</p>