<p>Frankly, this needs to be said: anyone now graduated from college was likely admitted under a scenario that has evolved. Ten years ago, eg, Harvard’s number of apps was roughly half what it was this spring, for the same number of seats. 5 years ago, most colleges were still reading paper apps and waiting for scores to be manually attached. Yearly, you can see differences in what a college wants and needs the next fall and what the pool of applicants is actually offering. </p>
<p>Gibby’s method of looking at what the college actually says is much more effective than trying to find some statistical model for holistic and then working backwards. And then you vet. Why do we think H asks, eg, “Have you been stretching yourself?” </p>