They cannot accept enough top performers to satisfy everyone. They aren’t obligated to, either. You know how many of Stanford’s 40 k apps are 4.0, club leaders, had some this and some that and are nice kids? You’ve read what they and Harvard have said about this?
Sorry folks, holistic is fine. It’s too many apps and supps that aren’t, that go off the mark or never hit it in the first place. All this certainty it’s polluted or a crapshoot, the URMs are getting in with lower merit (who has the nerve to say that?) are diverting you from the real task: rising to the challenge.
Past glory only shows part of it. Top schools are really thinking about the four years there.
Maybe that’s the confusion for so many families. You think a top admit is a reward. The kid worked hard in 9-12, he “deserves” to be one of the 5%.
Life’s not like that.