<p>lookingforward, focusing is exactly what this applicant is! She didn’t join 10 school clubs and try to become the president of all of them. She did one very impressive research paper, volunteered extensively with real impact at one national nonprofit, she obviously writes well enough to be published professionally, and she did two contests at the national level. We have no idea what she wrote about in her articles but quite possibly it was related to her other ECs. So no, not every single EC has to tie up into one neat package, but she certainly did focus beautifully. I’m sure she got a unique and steller recommendation from the nonprofit to supplement her teacher recs. I’m not surprised she got in either.</p>