There are many ways to play the admissions game. Play not just to get in, but to also set yourself up for greater life success. Mark Zuckerberg dropped out becuase he had a product, not that he was merely a risk-taker. He could have a product becuase he was building wesbites in high school. We would rather you be like Mark, someone pursuing interests related to your life potential in high school, rather than just flexing to get into Harvard. It takes years to put in motion your best life. Why not start now if it can help distinguish you for college admisisons? Do you want to be the CEO of an awesome self-designed life? If you want it later, you need to start now.