Thanks for posting the article. I hadn't read that specific article, but over the past decade, after reading College Confidential and watching the admissions process for my older two and their classmates, I could clearly see what is going on.

I think it is great if someone finds their passion by age 17, but I think there are many more out there who haven't yet found their passion - perhaps because 17 year olds don't even know what fields or opportunities are out there. And while some passions at 17 are real and may lead to world changing actions, I see others on College Confidential that may be interesting, but are of little substance.

Colleges can admit (at least private schools) whomever they please, but the lack of transparency, and how these elites encourage kids with no chance to apply, is rather frustrating (or perhaps worse than frustrating).