<p>Bay,
My point exactly. There IS no “absolute” ranking. This is the entire point. The admits you reference must have clearly shone above whatever different accomplishments in different categories the non-admitted students have. I have absolutely no doubt about that. </p>
<p>HYP have a glut of highly accomplished applicants from multiple categories. They get to pick & choose, big time. In some cases that will result in a lopsided showing of athletes, in other cases artists, and in many cases a mixture of categories (if there are multiple admits; naturally in many cases there are scant admits unless the school has quite a “history” and/or is quite large & has a large proportion of high-caliber e.c.'s as well.)</p>