@TheHappinessFund, CC is a curse as much as it is helpful if you let yourself go down the rabbit hole. As people wrote, 80% of “amazing” candidates will be shocked with a big Thanks But No Thanks.
Family friend…perfect 99% SSATs, straight As, nice kid, significant family issues (had to grow up fast, compelling story) rejected across the board at “top” schools.
Family friend…middle of the road SSATs, pretty good grades, nice kid, significant family issue for compelling story, applied to “middle of the road” schools and was accepted with HUGE money. Fantastic boarding, educational, and athletic experience.
I disagree with people who say “top schools” don’t matter. IRL anyone would prefer Harvard over generic State U. BUT anyone can take advantage of State U and be more successful than Ivy grads.
I went to a random State U no one outside of my state has heard of and was VERY happy and pretty darn successful as an adult. BUT, yeah, life would have been a little easier with a Yale diploma.
So a long way of saying, don’t worry about the “perfect” candidates, most will be rejected. You can take one of “their” spots with your interview, skills set, or community service…or whatever makes you, you.