<p>^ “The two Harvard applicants I’ve known whom I might (maybe) have thought were world-class and didn’t get in were both waitlisted. I have not known a person I would have guessed was in the top ~.5% of the applicant pool to be rejected.” - Whatever way you define “world-class”, reality is that Harvard can not hold all those “world-class” kids. They have to pick and choose. You are a world-class does not mean you deserve to request admission for you. I hear IMO kids have been rejected in the past as well. Besides, nowadays, there are plenty of kids who are rejected by all Ivy(or equivalent) schools they applied but saved by just one school, Harvard. You can not predict if you would get in until you actually try it. Such unique story stand out for getting admissions.</p>