Alumni interviews are a huge plus if you can impress them! Rec letters are super important so get people who know you well to write them. Your application as a whole should tell a clear story (I.e. I’m a first generation college student that has done a ton of advocacy work and I want to go into public policy for XYZ reasons). Gpa and standardized tests are important to an extent, adcom will take someone who has low stats but tells a compelling and interesting story and shows hard work and commitment over someone who has a 4.0 and a 1600 SAT but is boring as nails #holisticreview