<p>DSL1990, you are correct on your observation that 3Qs are not offered prep programs. First we have to examine what makes up the scholastically qualified candidate. It is the whole person score, pure and simple. What makes up this score? Everything about the candidate… SATs, coursework to include the courses themselves, and both their difficulty and successful completion, and, lastly, ECs. It can be any or all of these factors which might drag a candidate to the bottom of the 3Qed list. Most likely, it is somewhat of a combination of all three. They are at the bottom of the list for a reason. </p>
<p>Now, lets examine what makes a candidate unqualified scholastically. Again, it can be a combination of SATs, coursework and ECs. What about the candidate who was deemed unqualified for SATs only? Had his SATs been above 600/600, he would have been a guarantee for admission. Same about a slightly low academic coursework accomplishment. Both these candidates had outstanding ECs. They are what the Academy is looking for in an all-around individual. These are the ones for whom it is worth the effort to invest extra effort… Academic defencies are easy to fix. Being a well-rounded candidate is not.</p>