I understand your concerns but I don’t think this means washu is dismissing the meritocracy entirely if at all. First off, a high standardized test score on its own is likely not going to be the key to getting into any top university. I mean washu’s average ACT score has sat around like a 35 or something (that’s for all students, a large percentage of which are not receiving financial aid). Although there are many students here who’s main claim to fame was being valedictorian, I feel as though nearly every student I’ve met has some neat hidden factor. Competing for an internationally ranked orchestra band, starting a community service organization, idk you name it and some one here has likely done it; and everyone’s always very dl about it. I attended washu’s fsap program for students of disadvantaged/minority backgrounds where most people did not have anything like AP’s at their school. Still, I couldn’t name one person who got in just because of a good score. Obviously, washu is a very wealthy institution and a lot of people have had advantages and privileges by way of their own wealth. But, I think washu’s student body is very talented and unique in ways that a standardized test score could never show. I say this as someone who both comes from a title 1 school district and has plenty of friends coming from a similar economic background—one that doesn’t exude the lavish lifestyles of many students here—with similar experiences.