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I was reading an article on Harvard University that states that it has rejected 95% of applicants and I am curious as to why Harvard and McGill (Canadas Top University) have so many prestigious requirements to get accepted? Is it because of their outstanding curriculum or is it because of many CEOs like Bill Gates and actors like William Shatner had the $$ and brains to get accepted?

Maybe because the power elite (rich people) don't want their kids among "commoners" unless they have the money and brains. Plus, some people meet their life long partners in university. Rich person + rich person = super rich couple, what most wealthy families would rather prefer their child to be with.  
 
Just a thought, haha.

It could also be possible that being such a "prestigious" University, they receive thousands of applications, but can only accept so many people. For perspective, if you only have 5 spots available, and 100 people apply, you have to reject 95%.  
 
I have no idea about that, but just a thought as well.

Exactly. When you have a large number of applications coming in, you are going to reject most because you don't have that many open spots. Also when you reject 95% you are going to accept the 5% with most qualifications like high GPA combined with extracurriculars and community involvement.

I think part of what makes that type of school prestigious is that it caps it's admission numbers. Unlike a state school, they would receiving applications from all over the country and all over the world - much more than someplace like UofM or BU would receive.  
 
Contrast that to places like BU and UofM, while some programs have caps I don't think general admission has a cap. However many people apply and get in, that's how many there are that year.  
 
So yeah, instead of "if you meet qualifications you'll get in", places like Harvard would likely use a top-down assessment process, and then just pick the top people.

Abbysmum said "I think part of what makes that type of school prestigious is that it caps it's admission numbers. Unlike a state school, they would receiving applications from all over the country and all over the world - much more than someplace like UofM or BU would receive.     Contrast that to places like BU and UofM, while some programs have caps I don't think general admission has a cap. However many people apply and get in, that's how many there are that year.     So yeah, instead of "if you meet qualifications you'll get in", places like Harvard would likely use a top-down assessment process, and then just pick the top people. "

I have it on good authority that BU is the Harvard of Westman.  
 
I'm pretty sure that university admissions are largely a product of supply and demand.  
 

Many student that think they are ready for University just arent. Many students think that because they have a diploma from school they should enter university. a very high percentage find out they dont have the skills needed(reading,writing and Math) so the university takes their money and sends them on their way in two months.

"I have it on good authority that BU is the Harvard of Westman."  
And, no matter how much it chafes them, Dauphin U and the University of Minnedosa are not likely to take that title from Brandon U.  
 
Edited by just_thinkin, 2016-04-15 19:39:28