“TM, I think the confusion- and my issue with the thread link- is that kids do focus on stats, it’s the basis for top hs standing, their frame of reference. But many who read a report like the one cited then think stats are the primary factor in college admit decisions”
I don’t know how anyone can read that and think stats (sat/act/sat2s/aps/psat) is the primary factor when it’s #4, unless you’re saying grades are stats, which I don’t generally agree with. The question is, unless the survey went to mostly rack and stack schools, why aren’t adcoms putting holistic factors higher - essay, recs, ECs, interviews, but I think the colleges that responded are not that selective, but you could have higher acceptance rates and still be holistic.