<p>ok I have a question...If a candidate has extremely high test scores, but doesn't demonstrate too much interest in anything else would he/she have a lesser shot at making top institutions than someone with a little lower score but a well rounded personality and athleticism?</p>
<p>EC's matter a lot. Essays matter a lot. Having subpar stats is going to screw you. </p>
<p>Nuff said.</p>
<p>someone with high test scores but not too much demonstrated interest in anything else has little chance of getting accepted to the most competitive schools.</p>
<p>academics make you QUALIFIED at top schools-- ec's, rec's, essays, etc, get you in</p>
<p>actually, OP is correct. academics ARE everthing! adcoms just throw out all the essays, recs, EC lists, awards, and letters for fun. </p>
<p>well said, bingcold</p>
<p>yeah thats what I thought too...keep posting more feedback</p>
<p>Actually, academics can get you in, too. But not as in your GPA or SAT scores. But the courses you take. People at my school get to take classes at Princeton University, and I'm sure that's instrumental in all their acceptances (all but one are going to HYP). Then again, they all had pretty good EC's, too.</p>
<p>And I would consider going to the IBO twice to be under the umbrella category of academics, and that can get you into most schools (although a dearth of EC's and poor recs and essays can keep you out of mega-competitive schools like HYP, as well as LAC's).</p>
<p>Academics are NOT everything when it comes to the top colleges -- places like HPYS. Most applicants to such colleges have the academics that it takes to get in and to eventually graduate. HOwever, since there aren't spaces for all of those outstanding students, what tends to determine who gets in are factors like ECs and other things that will create a well rounded class.</p>
<p>Athletics and decent academics are probably the most important. Academic scholarships help, but athletic scholarships pay for everything.</p>
<p>So would it be logical to then say, that people who are "well-rounded" are considered more suitable for top institutions ?</p>
<p>IMHO, yes....</p>
<p>at top schools they expect you to have an awesome academic record... so it won't get you in, but it will keep you out</p>
<p>@ top schools I'd say you need more than just academic cuz I mean everyone that's applying are perfect. They need more to judge than academics. So extracurricular, leadership stuff, essays, all that matter even more.</p>
<p>You need academics to help getting looked at, and ECs to get you in. That's true and all, but the end matter is that you need to have a happy medium between the two in order to get accepted to a lot of universities.</p>
<p>After going through the process: it's the whole package and all the intangibles. Academics, ec's, essays, etc are great, but in the end it's whatever vibe the adcoms gets/ the intangibles. Just too many perfect students in academics for top institutions.</p>
<p>True, there are just too many academically perfect students outside the U.S (Asia, India, W.Europe ect.) that are applying to college. The only thing that sets less then scholar applicants apart is E.C.s. In other parts of the world that I have been to, the mentally is different. Pressure is placed on academ-
ics almost exclusively, while sports are placed on a lower level. The U.S. is different because a average student with nice sports resume(1st team all-league ect.) has a nice shot to get into a decent college free.</p>