<p>It’s a factor in that Brown and other top colleges want great students. Of course it’s not a free pass. You’ll be compared w/other black students. You’ll vie for a limited # of spots. If you don’t get in, others whom Brown deemed more desirable than you will have knocked you out. If you do get in, then you will have pushed out another black student whom Brown deemed less desirable than you. </p>
<p>Cold but true.</p>
<p>How much a factor? If not that many top quality black students apply to Brown, the competition is less. That’s the arithmetic of it all.</p>