<p>Here’s my theory, formed what I have heard and researched. About 10k of the applicants are truly amazing and stellar, but there are only what, like 2000 spots? Harvard picks from these 10k students and tries to form the best possible well rounded class (not that the people are well rounded, but the class is), and so they pick students according to their needs up until the last few hundred spots which are fiercely debated upon. So, it is really a crapshoot because we dont know what Harvard is looking for this year. If its not looking for an intel winner or it already picked one, then that dude is out of luck. This is my theory. It makes me feel better inside. :)</p>