<p>^Well, there’s no need to get nasty about it. I’m just pointing out that there are a large variety of variables, and given the <em>competition</em> – particularly from certain regions and certain schools with large numbers of applications to the “top 3” in particular – claiming that someone had “great” or “competitive” e.c.'s is not by itself a statement of qualification. It’s all comparative. The e.c. (or several) may be good, or even great, but compared to what the U has already received in the application pool from equally or more impressive candidates, or from a candidate from a rarely represented region, the e.c. as a contributing factor to qualification may be underwhelming in that applicant’s case. And <em>IF</em> the student is up against particularly strong competition, the level/type of the e.c. becomes more important as a factor. (Such as leader of a school club vs. national awards in 3 areas) </p>
<p>Also, a score does not a student make. This is why the teacher recs are important, and why those, possibly combined with academics off campus, can be tipping points among students with very high but not perfect scores.</p>
<p>And the application contents are unknown to anyone outside the applicant and the committee. For an observer to find it “ridiculous” that so-and-so got rejected is to operate on partial knowledge. We don’t know what the statement of purpose was, whether the essay was mediocre or outstanding, whether the application seemed focused or wandering. In stiff competitions, all those factors are in play.</p>
<p>^oh nonononono i think i may have come across as more critical than i meant to be. i was just trying to make sure that others didn’t think you had to be truly, truly amazing to get into a good school. you just have to have passion (which comes through teacher recs and essays, like you said).</p>
<p>sorry! i really didn’t mean to be an ass haha</p>
<p>I read about this kid. First of all, depending on the type of martial arts, a black belt is not all that impressive. Secondly, having 2 perfect scores certainly won’t increase one’s chances. And lastly, having a top 5 class rank obviously does not guarantee admittance into a top 5 college.</p>
<p>Considering that this applicant got into Caltech, Duke, and Rice, I would say that his academic commitment payed off worthy dividends.</p>
<p>There are very few applicants that truly deserve a guaranteed place at top schools (Intel/Siemens grand prize, USAMO winners, etc). Certainly a perfect score on the SAT warrants an admissions boost, but it is far from a guarantee into a top 10 university.</p>
<p>lol, i know that kid did NOT deserve a place in all those colleges! I was just posting that example in order to show other people how to post their “Ridiculous Rejections”</p>
<p>^Ah, my apologies. You should have used a more transparent example though, just to be a bit more clear (even though you stated it was simply an example).</p>