I have been following this thread and thinking exactly the same thing. Perhaps my DD's story will be a good example. She enjoyed weight training with the football team and being a member of her high school softball team. She attended Girls State and ran for class office only once, which she lost. After the loss she decided it was time to guide her own destiny rather than put it into a ballot box at high school. She saw a need for student involvement in emergency response, not only at her high school but in the surrounding community. She contacted our City Fire Department and checked into placing a "Teen C.E.R.T" (Community Emergency Response Team) program into the student body.
The Fire Department was very supportive and encouraged the project. Our County has 1.4 million residents so civilian assistance in a disaster will be needed. Before she could start this project and recruit team members she had to be trained as a trainer, so she could train her recruits. She attended C.E.R.T "Training for the Trainer" classes which were put on by the US Department of Homeland Security. She was in class with Fire Chiefs and people of rank in other organizations. She related her classmates were skeptical of her at first (16 years old) but at the end of the training they respected her and gave her their contact information so she could let them know how her USMA efforts worked out.
She formed the team, (calling it the Teen C.E.R.T. club, she was President) trained student members, had drills at school and critiqued both student and faculty response to the drills. School District administrators oversaw one drill and were so impressed, decided to install the Teen C.E.R.T. program District wide. Since she was the sole person in the District in possession of the Federally required training for trainers, she assited the Fire Department at an adjoining high school in implementing the program.
I know this is a bit long winded, but I believe if a cadet candidate can do something to set him or her apart from the field, it really helps. Both in the nomination interview and with USMA admissions. Be creative and look for a need in your community. Not only will it make you a more attractive candidate, you will also provide a real service to your community.
DD is a member of the class of 2015.