<p>Clyde10 said: He’s not gay or transgender; he didn’t escape from Somalia; and he wasn’t raised in a crack house. I guess he’s just not interesting enough.</p>
<p>Four flaws:
1 - College admissions is not just about individual merit. Your kid doesn’t get in to the school he wants just because he’s smart, test well and have lots of extracurriculars. The high grades and high test scores are associated with smarts, drive and economic advantage . . and the most selective schools have plenty of applicants just like your son, so they can pick and choose.
2 - Colleges select both individuals and classes. With many more white, affluent, talented, highly-testing kids applying to colleges than economically-disadvantaged kids who’ve overcome the odds to be considering college it’s just math that colleges pursue kids from the group that has fewer members.
3 - Chance plays a greater role than you think. As more and more people become “brand conscious” and direct their kids to the Top 20 or the Ivies competition becomes so intense for those schools that at some level chance plays a greater role. Example: son’s a fine musician? That’s a strength if not many musicians applied and just another factor if many did.
4-Demographics. Welcome to the one of the highest populations of high school graduates ever. </p>
<p>While it’s obviously disheartening to Clyde10 that his kid didn’t get in where he wanted, it’s both lazy and short-sided to blame it on “not interesting enough.” </p>
<p>Kei</p>