<p>SO WE ALL WANT PERFECT SAT SCORES, PERFECT SAT II SCORES, ALL A'S, A GOOD RANK, INCREDIBLE EXTRACURRICULARS...BUT....WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK CAN TAKE US A STEP FORWARD AND DISTINGUISH OURSELVES? </p>
<p>FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY GOT INTO IVIES OR THE UCs, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A DISTINGUISHING FACTOR?</p>
<p>it's something that no one, or next to no one else has. That's precisely why the question can't be answered. As soon as some one attains that 'something' many others follow suite and than that 'something' is just nothing.</p>
<p>Press caps lock again.</p>
<p>Well, for starters, don't type your essay using caps ;)</p>
<p>Essays and interviews give colleges a chance to see "intangibles" like your personality.</p>
<p>There. Is. No. One. Key. To. Getting. Into. College.</p>
<p>Good now?</p>
<p>I'd say winning gold medals at international science olympiads in at least two different subjects in addition to the usual stuff (valedictorian, 4.0 GPA, 1600 SAT...) should do.</p>
<p>Don't forget winning the world unicycling championship, too, just to show you're well rounded.</p>
<p>Oh, and save the starving children in China. That should do.</p>
<p>a hook?</p>
<p>Or cure cancer</p>
<p>cure cancer...too cliche, colleges won't look favorably on that</p>
<p>maybe if it was an obscure cancer... like toenail cancer</p>
<p>Send them a photo of you sporting nothing but a tutu. Works everytime, satisfaction guaranteed.</p>
<p>^^^^^
My cousin did that, got into Harvard, then again he had a 4.0 and 1600 SATs, but I'm pretty sure it was the tutu that got him in.</p>
<p>Who can resist the tutu?!</p>
<p>WHO CAN RESIST THE TUTU?!!!!</p>