The conflicting information kids are getting from various sources on everything admissions-related is indicative of the murky waters of holistic admissions. The OP was an AO for Stanford. Last I saw the admissions rate for Stanford was under 4%. I think it is disingenuous at best to tell kids that if they do not bore the AOs (because that is in essence what the OP has insinuated many times in his posts, that AOs do not like to be bored) their chances at a spot at Stanford will be any better than a raffle ticket drawing. The university admits who they want to admit and the OP may know the directive for the specific year(s) he worked there but that changes from year to year. I have read many essays that were “successful” in admissions. There were a few that I really liked but most were not good. And the ones I liked did not hit all the self-promotion and marketing points, and tying in your major and ECs etc. often discussed in these threads. They were just plain good pieces of writing. Gladwell would have liked them.
I have no problem with the OP coming on these threads and offering his advice. I don’t think anyone’s specific guidebook gets kids into Stanford (unless they are the new and improved Rick Singer) and the OP certainly doesn’t make any such claims.
Here is my unpopular advice: Don’t apply to Stanford. It’s a waste of your money.