<p>one and take somebody with 1300 to keep variety… </p>
<p>No adcom would accept a student with so-so stats just for variety’s sake. The 1300 would need to bring something valuable to the community: major athletic talent, arts awards, etc… As for “we’ve already accepted 3 applicants with similar credentials…” I think it may make a difference for the RD pool that 3 were accepted EA who have very similar and very specific profiles (eg. left handed oboe players or lacrosse players). Within each pool itself, adcoms switch folders from pile to pile until the very last minute as new information comes in or as individual adcom make a plea for specific applicants to be reconsidered.</p>