Lets do some simple math and take even just the T10. The avg entering class size call it 1,500, so there are 15,000 students. Let’s eliminate legacies and athletes (although some/many of these may also be national award winners), about 25%, leaving us with 11,250. Let’s take out URMs (again many may also be national award winners), call it another 25% so we have 7,500 remaining unhooked admitted students. There are not close to 7,500 national level awards. Many (maybe even a majority) of students who have national level awards may not go to T10’s or even T20’s. They may opt for in state flagship honors programs or privates that give them major merit scholarships. I agree the kid with a 4.0, 1500+ SAT, and some school and maybe even district/city level awards/recognition are not going to immediately stand out, but maybe they will get an LoR or write an essay or have other circumstances that really resonates. We get such limited information on any internet based “why I got in/rejected” stories, I don’t see how you can make such a sweeping statement on national level awards. I have done several post mortems with the Yale AO over the years, and the common theme isn’t the kid won “XYZ”, but there was something about the whole app that was consistent and made me think that the kid would be an asset to the class.
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