Yes,the"something else" factor, that is a more accurate way to describe what I believe takes place in the admissions process. Great grades and test scores and that “something else”.
Here are some examples among our daughters immediate friend group of that “something else” factor.
A child who was orphaned by genocide in Rwanda prior to the age of ten who is now a student at Harvard.
A High School Heisman Trophy winner.
A National Scrabble champion.
A National figure skating champion.
A National Ball Room dancing champion.
A State champion power lifter.
A concert pianist.
Countless stories of kids overcoming significant adversity while achieving amazing things academically and socially.
My sense is that the Harvard admissions office does a remarkable job in identifying that “something else” factor among the students they offer admission to.
But you still have to complete the application well and get decent LoRs. Sometimes, in the CC discussions, we make something like “champion” seem like, “Advance to Go, collect your admit.”
OP: From Yale’s website. http://admissions.yale.edu/what-yale-looks-for
I agree with what @greatkid posted in #20. The “something else” can be academics of a really special quality