In these of unleaded fuel, you may use spark plugs until the electrode erodes away. Every-so-often, check the center electrode for a sharp edge. As slowly rounds off, file it sharp.
Admissions officers look first at test scores, the rigor of the courses you take, and your grades in those courses. After that, they are interested in a student's extracurricular activities -- in other words, how you spend your time outside of classes.
AdmitSee found students whose application essays had a sad tone were more likely to be accepted to Harvard than Stanford. Specifically, essays written by students who were later admitted to Harvard focused on overcoming challenging moments in life.