<p>It is not a total crapshoot, but I agree that most of the admissions is a crapshoot. You never know if you have the right combination of ECs and good scores or awards. Besides, they seem to want students to strive to be accomplished or make the best of their situations. However, not all high school students have the desire to go out and do prestigious competitions or do stellar community service; most do it for the wrong reasons (out of wanting to just go to a top school rather than having a love for what they do). All that I am saying is yes you can be qualified, but at some point or another after they pick out the applicants that are a must have, then they just look for reasons to reject people, even if they are small. Even if you are so accomplished, you are not guaranteed admission to your first choice, and I am sure there are some people that are rejected from most or all of the ivies or elite schools, even if they deserve to be there and have the right qualifications. Since no one knows for sure what they are looking for and why some people are accepted over other applicants, then it is indeed a crapshoot. It would be easier if the whole processes was meritocratic in a sense as how CalTech admits (although personal qualities should still be considered).</p>