<p>I encourage you to read the book The Gatekeepers or, at the very least, this excellent answer by Harvard’s Dean Fitzsimmons on the subject: [Guidance</a> Office: Answers From Harvard’s Dean, Part 1 - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/harvarddean-part1/]Guidance”>Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 1 - The New York Times)</p>