Just ran into this article by Georgia Tech’s director of admission that I think applies to many other highly selective schools:
https://www.gtalumni.org/s/1481/alumni/17/magazine-pages.aspx?pgid=15663&gid=21&cid=34951
"A common misconception is that we want each student to be “well-rounded.” The truth is that we do not expect them to have “done it all.” Instead, we are asking. “Will this student be missed when they leave?” “Have they left an indelibly positive mark?”
Ultimately, we want students who will challenge and stretch their peers on campus and beyond once they graduate. We are not concerned with whether they had a specific title, but rather if we see evidence that they are making people around them better. In order to find this, we also closely read their essay and short answer responses, as well as their recommendation letters from teachers and counselors."
I swear I did not google for “common misconception”! 