Why do students with perfect grades and test scores get rejected?

Because admissions isn’t a beauty pageant judged solely on GPAs and test scores. Sure, academic excellence gets you through the door, but once you’re inside, it’s a whole different game. Top schools receive thousands of applications from students who all have “perfect” on paper. At that point, they start asking deeper questions: Does this student bring something new to our community? Will they thrive here, or just survive?

Then there’s the wildcard factor—things you’ll never see on the Common App. Institutional priorities, class balance, and even “yield protection” (schools guessing whether you’ll actually enroll) all play a role. Translation? You weren’t rejected because you weren’t good enough; you were rejected because the competition was outrageously good. Even perfect stats don’t guarantee a win when everyone’s a superstar!