<p>@phantasmagoric
There is validity to your argument; however, my cousin is a good counterexample to your theory. Not to demean him, as he is very bright and a great guy, but he got into Stanford without recruitment with less than stellar stats (including no AP’s at all) and extra curriculars…his essays were sufficient, but not dazzling. He does have 3 legacies…but his parents are of low incomes and certainly did not prepare him for his success. He was rejected from both Harvard and Yale.</p>
<p>I know all of his stats, read all of his essays, everything–the only thing that REALLY made him stand out was the fact that he had 3 legacies, but, as I stated before, they did not groom him for Stanford. </p>
<p>This is not to debase him in anyway; I love him and I am VERY happy for him. I am just trying to make a case.</p>