Oops.. Guess I forgot the “vanity” in the title.
This is far from new, and the problem’s even deeper. Even high school academic and athletic awards depend on “service,” and that service is variously and arbitrarily defined. If you can’t fight it with the local schools and school boards, there’s no way you can fight it with admissions offices. I’d bet the ranch that it’s code for discriminating against home-schoolers and Conservatives. The only good news is that there are some colleges out there that don’t insist on these banalities.
If she’s white middle class forget it. My daughter is valedictorian with a 99 average taking all IB and AP courses. 1570 of 1600 on the SATs, 35 of 36 on the ACTs. Tutored calculus, Speaks two languages, plays two instruments, 5 year varsity swimmer on a state championship team, lived in Costa Rica a semester, works 3 jobs since 10th grade, plenty of volunteer work & community services, etc.
she didn’t get into Princeton, Yale or Hardvard. But they all brag about the highest percentage of foreign students accepted and their high diversity (aka non-white) rates. It’s all good tho, she bagged a full scholarship at a very good school.