<p>HYPSM get enough high stats applicants to fill their freshman classes many times over with such applicants. Presumably, it would help to have something unusual enough to stand out in a positive way to an admissions committee. Being “too common” (e.g. being Asian from a big city or suburb in some state like California who plays the piano or violin as your main extracurricular and who wants to major in biology as a pre-med student or political science as a pre-law student, and not an alumni or faculty legacy or a celebrity) might not stand out enough among large numbers of similar applicants.</p>
<p>And even if you do find a way to stand out, it is still an uphill battle to get admitted to schools with <10% acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Better have some safety schools lined up.</p>