Any statisticians? Statistics and College Chances

[bovertine]

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I agree with your conclusion, but the point was not that soccer is like undergaduate admissions; rather, the point was simply that what looks non-random from the inside may look random from the outside. In fact, I have no doubt that it often looks random from the inside, too.

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<p>+1</p>

<p>And it is entirely possible for luck to be a major element in something, even if that “something” is not technically or purely “random.”</p>

<p>Maybe there is an element of pure randomness in the process at some point. I don’t know obviously. Maybe at some point it doesn’t matter at all what’s in the application, they start throwing darts or drawing straws to make the decision. It seems like some people find comfort in that. To me that would be incredibly annoying to find out. </p>

<p>But as far as strategy, it doesn’t matter if it’s random or not. IMO, to the extent the proclivity of any adcom is opaque to the applicant, this </p>

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There are differences between the admissions committees/students applying/students accepted at different colleges of course

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<p>is just as compelling a reason to submit multiple applications as any true randomness in the process.</p>