<p>Oh yes, I understand the point made. You are right - There is no golden ticket anywhere. </p>
<p>However, based on the two older siblings and their college endeavors plus the fact that son #3 was also valedictorian, I would bet the rest of his assets were top notch. Stellar. But not everyone tests well. A 30 is not a bad score but it is below the average and can put a school in an awkward positions. I hope you are right. Perhaps there were other areas that red-flagged son #3 's application. </p>
<p>Sometimes I think the baby Iveys forget their own <em>whole</em> self… They are an amazing set of schools because they have standards but still have personality. To keep that, there are times they need to move forward with depth. It can’t be all about dollars, awards, rankings and scores or every highly selective school will turn into a sterile institution instead of being a place of intellectual and personal growth.</p>