<p>"It isn't enough anymore for a seriously ambitious high-school student to load up on tough courses, compile a stratospheric grade-point average, prep for the entrance exams, and adorn a resume with varsity letters, artistic accomplishments and community service.</p>
<p>The new deal closer in the eyes of students ... is the application essay -- now at the center of a growing industry. Amazon.com lists 202 books of essay advice, including a compilation called "50 Successful Harvard Application Essays." ("I see my life as a mosaic," begins essay No. 46.)</p>