<p>It’s the individual and his/her strengths. One year you may have few applicants but more admittees. Another year, more applicants and maybe only a single or no admit. It’s serendipity and depends on what the larger applicant pool is bringing in any particular year. Each applicant stands on their own two feet against the applicant pool. What is that pool though? </p>
<p>Maybe you’re that outstanding scholar who’s also a great tuba player? Maybe your classmate is that strong math girl who’s played tennis and piano for 15 years? And the math/tennis/piano girl has strong GPA and ranking than you.</p>
<p>But this year, only two strong tuba applicants apply and 100 math/piano/tennis kids apply. Guess who is more likely to get accepted? You see, you’ll be compared with other kids like you – if they happen to be from your school, then so be it. But you’re being compared with like kids in the entire pool.</p>
<p>The use of school quotas is hogwash – and the schools themselves consistently declare as much. It’s of no value to them to turn down great students to curry favor with local high schools. They spend beaucoup cash marketing and recruiting. It’d be utter foolishness to randomly limit admits from any single school just so they can “spread the wealth”. There’s nothing to be gained. They aren’t beholden to high schools’ sense of entitlement. Think about it.</p>