<p>I do think that the top school realize that an applicant is more than a score. THere are so many scenarios for this that it would be impossible to list them all. A few have been mentioned, low gpa (very common), no ec’s, no volunteering, low scores in the other 2 areas, not a fit for their campus, poor or uninspiring recs or essays…the list could go on. I think the thing that surprises people is that an 800 isn’t going to guarentee anybody anything. You really do have to be the whole package in relation to the very selective schools- I know we have incredibly intelligent kids who squandered away their freshman and sophmore years, who have dui’s or other brushes with the law, I just don’t think you can look at the college admissions and disect out one element - and wonder how can this be. It really is the whole picture and I also think that admin reps are much better at seeing “fit” than we give them credit. I don’t know how many times I have heard something along the lines of, oh my kid was denied at georgetown but excepted at MIT. That said, I’m sure there are certainly plenty of 800’s that just didn’t make it because the pool is so big.</p>