<p>Yep - I thought the same thing - what “defines” a Harvard student. Funny - it’s harder to get into Harvard than to get out of it.</p>
<p>I do think the parallels are striking - with discussion boards, ranking systems and common apps artificially increasing the number of multiple applications and thus depressing admissions percentages make schools seem even more “exclusive” and further fueling the vicious cycle. </p>
<p>And the depth of despair from parents and students who are caught in that cycle who take it as a personal failure.</p>