<p>“Sure- if you form your application into what you think the AdComms want- a perfect high school student with no glitches, no discipline problems and many hours of community service- you have a shot at admission. It’s not the best shot, though.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, for my HS junior, we’ve come to realize she has a very poor shot: a high-achieving, well-adjusted, non-deprived, non-traumatized WASP; for her whole life, a kid every parent wanted to take home, every coach wanted to clone, and every teacher appreciated. (her parents do know how lucky we are—and that it was luck).</p>
<p>As a result, for the schools she aspires to, she’s a dime a dozen. So, she’s toast . . . . unless hers is the stair chosen the day the applications are tossed down . . . .</p>