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<p>Wrong Olympic analogy. Getting into selective schools is not like running a foot race. It’s much more like the Olympic figure skating competition - where “merit” is more than just how many triple jumps you landed (although that is certainly heavily considered). There is also significant consideration given to style points, degree of difficulty, artistic interpretation, and the very subjective quality of “what the judges are looking for.”</p>
<p>If you insist on a purely numerical process, enter the Olympic foot race or apply to a huge numbers-driven state school. But if you want to be an Olympic figure skater or to go to Stanford, you are going to have to put up with their respective “holisitic” judging processes. Your choice.</p>