<p>Also to add to this, the “intangibles” the counselor describes in the video, keeps fueling the dream of many many seniors. Yes, it may work just like any other outlier case, but in most cases, the top ranked in most schools fits that profile with the outstanding EC. Most others applying from the same school (ranked lower) do not get in as the admin office can’t offer admission to too many from the same school. Whenever I attend admission events, the officer giving the presentation is always encouraging people to apply (as long as they fit the SAT /GPA range)…and in some ways, this fuels just more applications. When the truth is more like…if the top 5 kids from your school are applying and you are #25, you really wont get in even if you have the SAT (unless you have a really amazing thing going for you).</p>
<p>And as for the generous aid package, I think most of the aid only helps either the very poor ,and not the middle class. Most middle class folks (with regular jobs) have had to take out parent loans.</p>