They are looking for talented students who have a passion for something. And that passion comes in different forms. Branch, who plans to go to graduate school, said she ultimately wants to become a U.S. senator from Arizona, perhaps the first of Native American heritage. Corbin said some students are looked at more closely because the school needs talent on the football team or in the music or art department. A scholar football player from Brophy College Preparatory, Harry Flaster, is headed for Yale.
Schools also look for diversity.
About 30 percent of this year's Harvard applicants from Phoenix are of Asian descent. Only a few Latinos and Native Americans applied, giving those who did a solid advantage. This year, Arizona's Harvard acceptance rate dropped to 5.2 percent. It wasn't for lack of high test scores and hard work. Harvard turned down valedictorians from Arizona high schools and students with perfect SAT scores of 1600.