<p>If say, there was an applicant with extremely unique circumstances and an incredibly "unique" essay, to what extent would Harvard (and other Ivy League schools) appreciate it?</p>
<p>In a way, the applicant can be seen as mysterious. Would this overrule a lacking GPA/SAT?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Probably not. It’s tough to say considering your vague description, but test scores and GPA always come first. Unless you are a super URM with a triple legacy (which constitutes your uniqueness), it will not help.</p>
<p>Your life story (99 times out of 100) only helps after you have crossed the so called ivy league threshold. Typically, this constitutes top fourth of your class (really depending on your school; in some cases, top 1%) and a 2100 (try for at least a 2200, though.)</p>
<p>All colleges are academic institutions and they look for students who excel in the classroom. That’s their absolute first priority. After evaluating students for their GPA and test scores, they then begin to look for student’s who do interesting (and mysterious) things. To be admitted to a selective college, you need to have both qualities. Honestly, there are plenty of student’s who have high test scores and GPA’s that do interesting things – so mysterious almost never overrules a GPA/SAT unless that student is a recruited athlete, URM, legacy or developmental case (son/daughter of a big $$$ donor).</p>