<p>My argument isn't that these students aren't the most desireable, it is that they aren't necessarily the most qualified. A URM with a 1520 SAT in the top 5 % of his class with decent extracurriculurs would be a highly desireable applicant, for example, but would not be more qualified than other " average excellent students." Two or more elite schools might also agressively pursue an athelete with otherwise unexceptional scores. Yet, the school who gets him has gained nothing more impressive than a more respectable basketball team - not one of the criteria widely used in determining school quality, I assure you.</p>