<p>@bovertine</p>
<p>Quote: is just as compelling a reason to submit multiple applications as any true randomness in the process. </p>
<p>This was exactly my point. The best stratey is to send many applications even if, from the adcom’s perspective, the oucome is not randon. This is because by doing so, one gets a "random sample of adcoms so to speak.</p>
<p>Now regarding my previous “harmful to students” comment, perhpaps it was to strong. My point is that nowadays with the CommonApp many other students are sending a large number of applications. This is causing a decline in acceptance rates. Therefore, the best strategy for an individual applicant is to “join the competition” and send many applications as well.</p>
<p>Thos arguments in favor that more applications do not increase chances are unhelpful to applicants. Once again, more applications may not increase your chance to get admitted to a particular college, but it does increase the chance you will be admitted to at least one college.</p>