<p>I believe there’s a bad message being inferred here, though; that all you need to do is write some “magnificent” essay and boom, you’re in, grades and other stats be damned. It really doesn’t work that way, and those who try to tell people it does are either being disingenuous or delusional. I think some people are in denial and are disinclined to mention they are also a legacy, a recruited athlete, an URM, an oboe virtuoso, from an underrepresented state, worth millions, etc.</p>