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<p>Maybe that’s what it is supposed to be about (not sure you’d get agreement on that everywhere, but I digress). But you and I know that the plain truth is, sometimes people get admitted for reasons that are beyond their control.</p>
<p>First of all, you’re right that it’s an imperfect comparison–you don’t have as much control over some factors as others. Race is one of those factors which is truly outside of your control. However, I think some people might argue that some of these factors are on a sliding scale of “control”. You have SOME control over how many APs you take, except what if your school only offers a limited number? You have SOME control over how good your grades are, but doesn’t natural aptitude also have something do with it? So that’s one way I don’t think the control/no control division is as black and white as it might first seem. </p>
<p>Another way to look at it is this: Applicants have attributes–some they worked for, some they were born with, some came about as a combination of choice and fate. Colleges want students with certain attributes. If you have those attributes, you may be admitted over someone who doesn’t have them. How you acquired those attributes may be only a secondary consideration. Or no consideration at all.</p>