What stands out in a college application?

Hello everyone.

Well I was just thinking about all the things that consist of a college application and I wanted your opinion:

What stands out in a college application (to a very top-tier school)?

The high test scores and GPA are so common that you can take a stab in the dark and find someone with those qualifications. I know that surpluses in job experiences, volunteer activities, extracurriculars, and etc would make a college resume pretty impressive but is there anything in particular that really wows the schools?

 

What we learned in school was to exaggerate on your application..

example;

Say you've done 5 hours of community service just add a 0 or two... If you maybe won a dance contest at a rec park or some shit, you could technically say your a national or regional dance champion.

 

Leadership, Debate, Sports, President/Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer of your class, LANGUAGE.

To be honest, My Principal informed me that the more years of Foreign Languages you take the more you'll be looked at.

 

Well, my grades aren't really the best as I am against homework. I believe it's just busy work and refuse to do it; boycotting it, if you will.

I scored a 31 on my ACT score last year and that seems to get some attention. It probably wont get me any scholarships, but colleges take notice.

 

I actually need advice for this, but so far I am taking 2 languages simultaneously: French 4 and Spanish 3.

 

Well in England, i don't know if its the same here. You can go on 12 mile hikes and it earns reward points, and that's what collage tutors really look at.