Our advice to our kids about their applications is that after they had established a strong case for admission based on numbers – test scores and grades – at the more selective colleges, including specialized colleges such as music or art schools and programs, they had to establish “points of distinction” based both on organized EC’s at school (e.g., athletics) and on NON-school activities. The latter were EC’s that might be truly beyond the curricula. They might even be solo activities, i.e., not organized.
For our older one, who had very good grades and outstanding test scores, I think it was the points of distinction that set him apart. STATE-level awards in journalism, debate, and math competitions. For our younger one, it was awards for art and design. This was especially relevant because of her desire to attend art school. It wouldn’t much matter if she was in the top percentiles in tests and grades, or a leader within the school. If she didn’t have a strong portfolio she’d have had a tough route to admission. To achieve this, she attended special programs outside the school (outside the state, in her case).
In short, in highly competitive admissions, those who have extra points of distinction and recognition beyond the core curriculum are going to be the more successful.