<p>I have a theory about college admissions, based more on human nature than on data, and that is that adcoms reduce applicants to a short phrase, such as “Hispanic tuba player from Alaska,” or “Latin prize-winner lecacy with a 2400.” If that’s true, you can see how “abalone diver” might make you more memorable than “varsity swimmer.” Of course, “Olympic swimmer” will trump “abalone diver.”</p>