<p>I posted this info on another forum, but it is relevant here. Few schools publish the data that would answer the “long shot” question, but one selective (24% admission rate) school does, USC. Here are their numbers:</p>
<p>Applicants: GPA 3.5 SAT 1710 - 2070
Admitted: GPA 3.8 SAT 1990 - 2210
Attend: GPA 3.7 SAT 1930 - 2150</p>
<p>For a student in the admitted students range, the real admission rate is much higher than the published 24% admissions rate. The question is, how do these differences reflect differences at other schools? My guess is the more well known the school, the more long shot applications. As Chicago becomes more well known it may be getting more of those in line with its better known peers.</p>