I think Cal Newport's book "How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out)" is interesting. Here is an essay of his.

http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/03/...surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/
How to Get Into Stanford with B’s on Your Transcript: Failed Simulations & the Surprising Psychology of Impressiveness
March 26th, 2010