Admission to college isn't just about grades, test scores

0 Comments | USA TODAY, July, 2008

Jian Li was the ideal high school student. He had perfect scores on the SAT reading, writing and math tests. He graduated in the top 1% of his class. He participated in lots of extracurriculars, including leadership roles. And yet in 2006, Princeton University turned him down. Why?

At elite universities, the answer is pure guesswork. So many students with sterling records apply that admissions officers could fill an entire class with their second choices and see no drop-off. They seek a diverse mix of interests and talents. Playing the oboe or showing a sense of humor can make the difference.

What any university desires is a mosaic in which students learn as much from one another as they do in class. But to those who don't get in, the result can feel like...