SLE Denial - NOT THE END OF THE ROAD

The reason for the perception and subsequent angst is clear. The acceptance letter to SLE from the admissions office states: "Your selection to SLE does more than invite you to attend the seminar. It also confirms you as one of our very top candidates for admission."

Again, not used in the admissions process. That wording is unfortunate because it may make some campers think they have leg up in admissions or that they have somehow gotten a positive "chance me" when that is not that case. This is the equivalent of the junk mail that tells you "you may have already won," or "due to your outstanding credit score, you are among the few chosen to receive <whatever>." Those campers don't even have nominations yet, so they aren't even in the admissions pool. It should probably read: "It also confirms you as one of our very top candidates for admission ... to SLE."

Kids: Go to SLE if you want to check out the WP campus and do a CFA (or not). If you aren't accepted (too few slots for too many self-reported highly-qualified applicants), enjoy your summer, do other things, work on your application, and don't give SLE another thought.

There is nothing wrong with the wording in the SLE letter, because it is true. Kids who get in SLE are top candidates for admission but that doesn't mean that candidates who didn't get in aren't top candidates for admission either. They simply don't have enough spaces for all the wonderful candidates that are interested. There's more to the selection process than just looking at test scores. There is a geographical distribution to the SLE offers. They don't want 100 candidates from one district, even if they are all top candidates. Also, they make SLE offers to those who will help them meet their class composition goals.
If you don't get an offer to attend SLE, use that time to improve your file. For ex. - Go to Boys/Girls State. That will give you leadership WCS points whereas SLE attendance will give you no WCS points.
 
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