<p>I'm so confuzzled by how people want applicants to "stand out" I see all y'all stats and they all seem relatively similar. Hell check me out, I'm a regular joe (for the applicant pool for Stanford SCEA)</p>
<p>Aside from awards and such, it's not so much who you are, but how well you present yourself. It's hard to shine with a sterile application, but do your best.</p>
<p>passion. I think being able to display passion for something will make an application strong, especially if it relates to learning or knowledge. The desire to go the extra step.</p>
<p>it doesnt require national recognition. Some people do stuff in an area that isn't at the national level and is just as outstanding. While I am sure some nationally recognized people will disagree with that. </p>
<p>I also think if you can demonstrate that you will/have the potential to bring something to the university that is unique and powerful. And showing that after leaving Stanford you will continue to contribute to society. Maybe thats all idealistic stuff though.</p>
<p>I agree that they essays are perfect opportunities for someone to stand out; you can write about stuff that are not on your app, what makes you different</p>
<p>the guy who invented mozilla, the guy who invented google, tiger woods, reese witherspoon.. they all went there too.. but its all been done, so gotta think of something new!</p>
<p>If anyone has an extraordinary (the literal sense of the word "out of the ordinary", not "super special") thing they do that might help them get in, post it here. I think it'll be interesting to see what everyone else is like.</p>
<p>I founded a fence-building company that was highly successful and competed with professional companies.</p>
<p>I started the first Ultimate Frisbee high school league in the Portland area. Also I propogate aquarium plants, 68 different spieces so far, which I sell for extra cash.</p>
<p>people that stand out: USAMO winners. Intel and Siemens Semifinalists. atheles that are playing at a state/national level. stuff like that. </p>
<p>Also, latinos, african-americans, first-generation immigrants, blue-collar backgrounds with high test scores and GPAs will also stand out. Not a whole lot of those.</p>
<p>has anyone read this essay before? it's laughs...</p>
<p>"Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly
defended a small village in the Amazon Basin from a horde of ferocious
army ants..."</p>
<p>"What does "propogating aquarium plants" involve, exactly?"</p>
<p>well... basic trimming and replanting and runner stuff, but about a year ago I started getting into seed propagation which is the harder part. Getting water conditions to get some plants growing can be tough and then once you get them growing convincing them to flower. Fertilizer/nutrient ratios. I imagine its something like terrestrial gardening although I haven't had much experience with that. And one of my favorite things is creating aquascapes because there are so many different effects that can be achieved and there aren't many people that tell you your work sucks :-).</p>