How many are legit applicants?

[sybbie719]

<p>The $64,000 question would be; What exactly constitutes a “legitimate” applicant?</p>

<p>If you did not have the opportunity to do so, I would recommend that you read the Overachievers, by Robbins</p>

<p>From p. 202</p>

<p>

Harvard’s dean of admission and financial aid, Bill Fitzsommons told me that applicants have to do some unusal things to distinguish themselves is a “misconception”. “in brad terms, there are 3 ways to get into Harvard,” he said. </p>

<p>Each year out of 23,000 applicants and 2,100 admits, </p>

<p>about 200 to 300 students get in because “they are among the most exciting potential scholars of the coming generation.” </p>

<p>The second category consists of "people who do something extraordinarily well.’ 200 to 300 excelling in dance, drama, or athletics, whose achievements “are almost surrogates for energy, drive and commitment.” </p>

<p>The third way to get into Harvard is the most common: students who have “plain old accomplishments on a day-to day basis. it is not about gimmicks, but about substance.”</p>

<p>Harvard tells students there are hundreds of excellent colleges choices, and while Harvard may be one of them, other schools might be a better match.

</p>

<p>One of the main reasons that a kid with perfect scores would be rejected or waitlisted at any “elite” school is because when reviewing their applications, the admissions committee may reach concensus that this student would be better suited somewhere else.</p>

<p>At the end of the day, schools are looking to build a community of learners. It will not always be about who has the highest gpa or SAT score, as there will be places, for artist, poets, dancers, computer geeks, good deed doers and those who just plain folks with the potential to do extraordinary things coming from various walks of life.</p>