I’ll disagree with the last few posters. Sure those accepting are deserving but so are many who are not. I’m quite sure it is just about a coin flip between some of the choices. But, as stated in previous replies, that is from highly qualified applicants. For sake of argument, say scores and GPA at the 75 percentile mark for the school. I worry that saying doing xyz EC or spending that extra 20 hours on the application will set you apart. Maybe and maybe not.
@Lindagaf said it well. Do what you can to get to the gate but I think there is luck past that if you don’t have a true hook and I’m sure those with hooks miss too unless the hook is a well known last name.