<p>It’s a subtle issue of semantics, Northstarmom. The notion of “absolutely qualified” or simply “qualified” is only defined by the college, not by the applicant or her friends. It’s their game and they make the rules. </p>
<p>I took “absolutely qualified” to mean definite admit by the adcom. </p>
<p>You make a good point that many qualified students are turned away by colleges. By the same token, many students that may not on the surface seem as qualified are accepted. Again, the college makes the rules on what defines “qualfied,” absolutely or otherwise.</p>
<p>This DB is full of kids, their friends, and their parents who claim they are absolutely without a doubt the most qualified applicant on the planet for School X and are schocked (schocked!) that they weren’t admitted. Well, guess what, they don’t decide what qualified means. The school does.</p>
<p>Everyone applying to top schools should read this:
[Colleges</a> look beyond grades and test scores - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/03/22/looking_beyond_grades_and_scores/]Colleges”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/03/22/looking_beyond_grades_and_scores/)</p>
<p>BTW Northstar mom, I generally agree with you and I think I agree with you now. As I said, it’s a semantic issue.</p>