Again, ANDs are not some checklist sort of bullets that can be used in marketing promos (beekeeper, hula dancer.) They reflect the qualitative assets.
Most kids applying to the elites (I don’t think Sarah Lawrence fits into the level of competition of a Yale or Swat) are top performers, have some good ECs. Yes, kid after kid with 4.0, good enough scores, in a tough enough curriculum. This is a process of elimination. There is no section where Harvard or Stanford are willing to cut much slack. They don’t have to.
You don’t “stay alive” in the process because you do some activity no one else does, did it longer, nor won an award few do, have a hard luck tale. (I barely even understand that thinking.) That may get some momentary attention, but staying alive is when, on top of your academics, you show the attributes they want- maturity, perspective, judgment, the self awareness, good will, flexibility and more. The Activities section shows some of that, (in that it reflects decisions made,) but adcoms don’t guess, “Oh, beekeeper, must be intellectually curious.” It’s the college app and you either show what they need to see or you don’t. It’s your vehicle, your moment on stage. The savvy kids don’t discount some aspect of the app because someone else told them it doesn’t matter or that juggling on a unicycle would make them “stand out” and that’s enough to make it to the final round. Or someone says their hard luck tale will stick in a reader’s mind. Instead, they think.
Maybe it’s good to keep in mind Urena’s comment about turning the 40%into 14%.
Sorry, but this idea some kid can get oh-so-much discussion in committee, while they project and dissect merits he doesn’t show, is off. You need to get to the final 3X first.