But on a sunny day earlier this year, she came inside after tending the garden. There was a letter from Harvard, the type of letter every high school senior dreads from a university -- a regular-sized envelope, the ominous sign of rejection.

Cautiously, she opened it: "Dear Ms. Loggins, I'm delighted to report that the admissions committee has asked me to inform you that you will be admitted to the Harvard College class of 2016. ... We send such an early positive indication only to outstanding applicants ..."

She gasped when she read those words.

Gardner had the same reaction when she handed him the note at school the next day. "I just looked up at her, and kind of teared up because this is a young lady who ... " he stops, his voice breaking.

"When I first met her and had her brother in class, they were living in a home without electricity, without running water, they were showering at a local park in a restroom after most of the people at the park had left. This is a young lady who's been through so much and for her to receive this letter -- pretty awesome."

Not only was Dawn accepted to Harvard, she got a full ride. She was offered tuition, room and board, as well as assistance finding an on-campus job.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20842271)

it's all PR.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20842280)

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-06-24/living/homeless.to.harvard_1_skid-row-homeless-shelter-academic-student?_s=PM:LIVING

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20842496)

Just kidding. This is exactly the type of thing admissions should take account of and use as a 'plus factor', much moreso than an American born 'Hispanic' legacy with a cardiologist father who went to HMS.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20842673)

This is actually pretty heartwarming.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20848866)

Sometimes you're really an asshole.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20847100)

"A straight-A student, Dawn was president of the photography club. She also had started a community service program collecting thousands of letters for active military troops and was involved in National Honor Society and band club. Before she took her custodian job, she ran cross country.

She wasn't top of her class, and she didn't have a perfect GPA, but she was smart. On paper, she had always fared well."

These are pedestrian achievements by the absurdly high standards the Ivy League holds applicants to these days. So being abandoned by your parents with a decent gpa suddenly makes you Harvard material? This article is a prime example of how 'elite' college admissions in the US has turned into a complete fucking circus.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20844632)

social mobility exists

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20847017)

=====

Is this for real? They sent her acceptance in a regular envelope? Bullshit. I've never heard of acceptance letters being sent in regular envelopes before.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1965584&forum_id=2#20847071)