<p>Asa dad of someone in Math 55 and other who is a recruited athlete (although someone who did not want to follow her brother but strike out on her own) I can say from first hand experience that there are multiple ways for a college such as Harvard to evaluate who they feel will become leaders in society. My D’s thousands of hours in the pool while being an excellent student, but who is not academically my S doesn’t make her any less worthwhile as a member of any college–including Harvard. Indeed, there are many indications that people with my D’s background will actually be more successful by almost any measure other than his being an academic.<br>
Should Harvard only admit potential summas? No–it would fail in its mission. Also Harvard would be a far more boring a place for everyone.</p>
<p>In the end admission to Harvard is not a REWARD or a IMPRIMATUR-- it is a guess on the part of the Ad Com that this group of students have something to offer both each other and the world while they are in cambridge and after they leave. Thus it is about the future not the past.</p>