It's not personal

[sorghum]

@sorghum There are always smarter kids, but for elite colleges, do you truly think the 1560 with a 4.0 UW GPA and a full time job running an entire business every summer, can be definitively said to be smarter/better than someone with a 1565 on their SAT, with a 4.9 weighted GPA and four summers volunteering with kids who have disabilities?

Because those are the types of kids admins at top colleges are choosing between. Truly extraordinary individuals, many of whom would likely thrive in a highly competitive environment.

Actually, in the modern applicant pool, I think these are “strong standards”, not at all truly extraordinary.

Truly extraordinary could be ‘nominated for Nobel prize at age of 12’. Or true national or international standing in a substantive academic or sporting activity.