So DD’s first choice is a highly selective institution, which means it’s a reach (for everyone). DD has a 1590 on the SAT, is at the top of her class at a super competitive private school, has three 800 scores on SAT Subject Tests (Chem, Bio & Math), has some nice ECs and community service to pair with the academic record, is a nationally ranked athlete (but most schools only offer her sport as club sport, so not a recruited athlete), and has a couple a great internships. So, although DD is not a URM, first gen, or a legacy, she knows that she will be among the tens of thousands of competitive applicants to highly selective schools. The question pertains to her one use of Early Action/Decision application.
As it turns out, DD’s first choice also happens to be where a classmate (who herself has very respectable stats) will be applying early. The problem is that her classmate is a recruited athlete there. So, DD wants to know if her application will be stacked right next to her recruited-athlete classmate’s application, resulting in DD’s application being chunked in the wasteland of students deferred and then waitlisted (essentially rejected). If so, DD will use her one early elsewhere. But it’s a big thing for her to pass on, so there’s considerable angst about it.
Your daughter will never know if the other applicant changed her admission chances. We have a big school here that usually has a few athletes going to Stanford. Other students also get in.
Top selective colleges seek diversity, so of course students from a high school are compared against each other, against applicants from the same city/state/gender/race. Whether there’s enough room for more than one from your daughter’s HS and whether your daughter’s overall app will be competitive is something none of us can answer.
I urge you to read the thread discussing Harvard’s admission practices regarding athletes. Although the main topic is athletic admission, it’s a very revealing look at overall admission practices and is an eye opener. An unhooked applicant to a school like Harvard is competing for a very small number of open seats. Also note the last paragraph of post 229, written by a person who works in the admissions office of a Harvard peer; clearly implies there are only a certain number of admits for each area and each recruited athlete from that area takes one of the admits.
“I said one reason I mind the amount of pull a coach can have is because of the kids who don’t truly fit, who would benefit from a different envirnoment. But it’s also that, considering geo diversity needs, you take that star player who would benefit elsewhere and it affects the number from his/her area, even the high school. In contrast, don’t assume a minority or low SES kid can’t be a great match.”
That refers to my feelings about recruited kids who don’t truly qualify in all the ways the rest of the pool is subject to. In this case, OP is saying the other gal also “has respectable stats.”
Usually, CC says to first get a feel for the number of kids usually admitted from your hs, often via Naviance. Then, realize that stats aren’t the whole of it, for non-recruits. You need an idea of why she might be atractive to this college, how to show that. It’s more than what makes her tops in her own hs, it’s what the college will like to see.
In other threads, you (or your D?) mentoned ECs that suggest a humanities interest. What is the possible major? That matters. Can you mention your state?
Something doesnt add up here. Your daughter is nationally ranked at a sport that most colleges only offer as a club sport. Given title iv etc I am having trouble with that part of the story.