"Energy and ambition" vs. "preparation"

[wisteria]

<p>I was struck by this quote from Harvard director of admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis:</p>

<p>

“We’re trying to bring people who will use Harvard very well and will do something with their futures,” Lewis says. “Energy and ambition matter a lot, and they matter more than preparation.”

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512786[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512786&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Although she made this remark in the specific context of a discussion of homeschooler admissions policy, I got the impression that she was making a statement about admissions policy towards all applicants in general, not just homeschoolers.</p>