<p>^Whereas my opinion is that if one is truly a zero-chancer, the money is better spent on dinner for the parents or donated to the local women’s shelter.</p>
<p>I am a strong discourager of “just if” applications by students several standard deviations from the admitted student norm. And if the OP and his/her family were to ask me that face to face (like some do at my college fair info sessions), I’d be just as frank.</p>