Here’s the old format for Stanford, from the class starting fall 2016. Hope it’s enlightening for anyone who hasn’t seen things like this. https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/selection/profile16.html Anyone can search for this stuff.
So 18% of applicants had an 800M and only 8% of those got admitted, but they form a large part of the class. Even larger, those with 700-799. This is not that “Stanford cares noticeably less” about scores. It’s that Stanford, with 44k apps for roughly 2100 admit letters, cares about the entire picture one presents.
Just because someone is tops in their own hs doesn’t mean they get it. You can certainly blow it. Meanwhile, some kid with a 750 might be right behind you, presenting the “whole” they want to see, the sorts of activities, challenges and impact, the thinking and perspective. The energy to NOT look at any of this simplistically or superficially.
Same goes for all the top/tippy top holistic colleges. They care about stats, but also more than stats.
@damon30, that “preparation and background” is critical. Some posters claim that, unless a college admits to specific programs (college of engn, school of music, whatever,) it doesn’t matter. But it does. Academic and activities. And thinking. The level of one’s thinking drives a lot of choices. Or not.
