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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We're new to the process, so apologies if this is a stupid question.

Obviously colleges like Harvard hover around 5%...but of the 95% who are required, what percent were legitimate candidates in the first place? I.e., how many applied on a whim with a 2.8 GPA, how many didn't actually complete the application, etc?

Just curious. I know highly selective schools are still highly selectivce, but I'm curious if things like this are taken into account when people talk percentages.[/quote]
Instead of trying to make the numbers go higher, recognize that they are much, much lower. Take out URM, Questbridge, VIP kids, athletes, major donors, geographic diversity, first gen, and a slice of international students. The vast majority of normal, high stats unhooked kids have a 0% chance of admission. The rest have a 1% chance — and that’s rounded. Unhooked kids should never, ever apply to SCEA schools at this point…[/quote]

+1 My friend's DD was really disappointed to not get into a highly selective SLAC. Then we sat down and worked through the numbers. Assume x freshman spots, y yield = they need to take, for example, 2,000 students. Ok, half of those are going to be girls so you are competing for 1K spots. But they also want racial diversity, so assume half of those are for white girls, now 500 spots. They want some regional diversity, probably not taking more than 20% from the mid-Atlantic, now you are down to 100 spots. And we haven't even factored in athletes, say 1/3, now you are down to 67. Some of those will be legacies/big donors, so maybe really you are in play for 50 spots (and I didn't even factor in 1st gen or the star musician etc.)at this school that has a bajillion applicants and guess what, white girls from affluent suburbs are the most common type of person in their pool. The school is looking to build the class they want and you are competing in your particular bucket. Your shot is vanishingly small. Sure, take the shot but the expected outcome is a deny. It's not personal. [/quote]

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