The AdCom chief's friend (let's call him Gary) and I have a common family friend. Last summer this common family friend told me that Gary's daughter (let's call her Melanie) is applying to the same state school as me and that we'd likely be classmates because she's assured the A thanks to Gary's friendship with the AdCom chief. Not surprisingly, Melanie got the A very early in the cycle from this school which is notorious for a long application cycle. What a coincidence!