<p>I do not know where you get that “alumni kids with less than stellar stats are often given the nod.” That is untrue." Really!
curious, I get that info from 25 years worth of knowledge of the students and parents at my son’s private prep school here on the SF peninsula, which send as AVERAGE of 10 seniors to Stanford each year. There were 5 Alumni students with lower stats that beat out higher ranked /accomplished kids the year my son was a senior. Take my word for it or not, it doesn’t change things.</p>