@GregB77777 With all due respect, no one over the age of 21 believes that Harvard, Columbia, et al “reads” 35,000 applications. Physically impossible. There is some sort of computerized pre-screening taking place.
Further, I believe that such pre-screening would be entirely appropriate. The only problem, of course, is that some students (as has been shown on this very web site) will make up whatever ECs they believe will trick the system. At that point the student has only their own conscience to hold them to account.