<p>It’s just that I think that at the very selective schools, scores and grades in the mid-range are just what it takes to even get your application looked at. </p>
<p>Everyone has access to guidebooks, etc., that publish the ranges for each school. I don’t think too many people with stats way below the school’s published numbers apply–for example, kids with a 3.3 and scores in the the 500s generally don’t apply to Emory. So I assume that most of the applicant pool (not all) has the numbers to be a realistic applicant. Applications far below the general statistical profile can be easily rejected without there being some special circumstance, but since there aren’t going to be all that many, I don’t think those rejections really boost other applicant’s chances by much.</p>
<p>So my reasoning is that if a student is in the middle of a very selective school’s applicant pool, there is basically a 1-in-3 chance for an average applicant to get in. Which, to me, makes a school a reach in reality, even if a student’s stats are within the mid-range published for the school. I don’t mean a ridiculous, pie in the sky reach, but a realistic reach where the applicant has to realize that while very qualified, there is a good chance that he or she might not get in.</p>