<p>Sometimes a student can do everything right and still not make the cut. It has little to do with anything lacking on their application. In a different year - with a different mix of applicants they might have been accepted.</p>
<p>It is not a reflection on the worth or merit of that student. That’s the most important takeaway.</p>
<p>I do think students rely too much on grades and scores as an indicator, however. There are many other indicators that might suggest a student with a lower score is just poor at test taking but has a thirst for knowledge and other results that make them interesting. Or it can be a matter of a recommendation from a teacher that was lukewarm. Sometimes they are negative - which the family will never know because the reports are confidential. I’ve seen students rejected that I knew were at the top of the charts and who received strong recommendations even from interviewers. I’ve seen others voted a “no” because they came to the process arrogant and entitled. </p>
<p>But mostly - once you weed out those who are unqualified or are clearly not a fit for the environment - there are still too many students (thousands too many) with strong applications to be accommodated. </p>
<p>I tell students to do the best they can with what they have and apply broadly - but only to schools they would be happy to attend even as a back-up if that is the result. And to make sure teachers know more about what motivates them and about their extracurricular activities outside of school so the letters of recommendation can have some depth.</p>
<p>Beyond that - it’s just been very rough out there. And getting tougher every year.</p>