@KC2022 The other student probably had a hook, something the school needs to check a box. More and more, this drives the bus. Looking at my daughter’s elite LAC college admission this weekend, by the time each subgroup of kids they were looking for were filled: URM, first gen, recruited athlete, legacy, diversity incuding geo–there were few seats left just for kids who had sterling grades and ECs. Give it some thought. See if your student has a hook. If not, you’ll need very compelling application with catchy and heartfelt essays.