<p>I don’t know about miracles, but I know a handful of people that just applied to say that they tried, and they got in. My friend’s mother only applied to one university (Harvard, back when it had ED) and she was accepted with good grades, decent SATs and minimal ECs. My father’s friend was accepted with good grades, average test scores, and presumably average ECs and essays. I think that “average” people (and by average I mean the typical overachiever that hasn’t cured cancer or won any awards or started any businesses) CAN get in, but its a bit of a crap shoot.</p>