<p>It seems like they are important in that they are the breaking point between 2 applicants with great scores. So you need great scores/grades <em>then</em> great EC's. I don't think great (not phenomenal) EC's can make up for bad grades. What do you think?</p>
<p>(By "great" I mean things like state gold medalist in something. By "phenomenal" I mean olympic skater.)</p>
<p>What do you mean by "poor grades"?</p>
<p>Great EC's (and by great I mean unique) will indeed make up for grades and SAT scores that are a little on the low side - but only to a certain limit. </p>
<p>If you apply with a 1900-2000 on your SAT, chances are you'll be rejected outright... (that is to say unless you are a recruited athlete, a URM, or an internationally acknowledged musician)</p>
<p>Well, not neccessarily poor grades but on the lower 25% side. </p>
<p>2100 Sat, 3.6 Gpa, Rank 15/300. all ~650 sat2s non rec-ath, legacy, minority etc. (These stats seem low if you see the RD decision thread)</p>
<p>Admission officers always say that Gpa and Sat's are only part of the app, but I think that they are much more important then EC's, recs, and essays.</p>
<p>Still, I have met one person who got into UCLA with a fantastic essay. She had grades and sat's on the low side, but her essay was so good, the college framed it and put it on some special wall.</p>