In my son’s case, he was 2090 SAT super-scored, 34 ACT, 4.5w/3.9uw GPA in an all-honors/AP curriculum, and he is 9th out of 375 in his class. National Merit Commended (and in another state would have been a semi-finalist!) Extra-curriculars? Kind of a lot of everything, including leadership in most. HS band(s), district festival bands, Eagle Scout, Model UN, significant volunteer experience and one year of a sport. His essay? I’ve read it and thought it was some of his best writing, but I have no perspective compared to others. Who knows if the CEAS panel even reads them?