<p>I've read plenty of posts on CC making it seem like not having the most incredible ECs in the history of mankind, no matter what your grades/scores are, will get you rejected at top schools. </p>
<p>If someone had very high academic stats, do they need their ECs to be as strong as someone who has high but not super-high academics? could I make up for not insanely amazing ECs with high academics?</p>
<p>Albeit, I have a national award, black belt, sport, volunteer/community service, and participation and leadership in clubs, including starting a couple of my own, with a few areas of focus. I also have a 2370 superscore (1600 M/CR), 4.0, 800/750 SAT IIs, salutatorian, etc). But reading through CC sometimes, I feel that it wouldn't be near enough for top schools.</p>
<p>No persons situation is the same as another’s, so it’s impossible to accurately give an answer. </p>
<p>A school’s website will tell you how much importance they place on various factors in admissions. Some have ECs as just “important” whereas GPA and test scores are “very important.” Generally, top schools value ECs more than less competitive schools. CC is not reflective of the real world. Some people here have crazy stats. Strong academics can help an applicant lacking in other areas, but in the end it comes down to whose reading your application, where you’re applying, and what the school wants.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the high school too. On CC a 4.0 looks the same as any 4.0 but if you come from a strong high school you won’t have time for many spectacular ECs.
For our high school which is not super strong but top 1000 US news high schools, kids who regularly get into MIT, Yale, Stanford with just a few ECs. When I googled for their names only a few ECs popped up. I also checked the yearbook for sport activities and such to confirm it and I found they either have academic clubs or sports or science fair winners of something but not a phlethora of ECs and clubs like I see on CC.
EDIT to add, it’s also not about stats, their LORs must be strong because most of them show up at award nights with multiple awards from different departments.</p>
<p>The vast majority of schools don’t care at all about ECs. For top schools (particularly those that don’t offer merit aid) the general thought is grades and scores are the basis for getting into the competitive pool. It’s essays, recs and ECs that get you selected. But there are only so many national science awards to be given out. A well balanced applicant still has a shot.</p>
<p>OP, get off of CC. those are NOT weak ECs. AT ALL. </p>
<p>as for if you actually were lacking ECs, the answer to your 1st questions would be no. adcoms look at apps as a whole. no one part interferes with another</p>
<p>I agree with stressedouttt that your ECs sound rather solid to me. They should complement your objective statistics well in your applications.</p>
<p>Colleges generally assess first whether or not an applicant will be able to succeed academically at the school. This means that they weigh transcript and test scores before even looking at ECs.</p>
<p>Academics always > EC’s. The majority of schools in the country don’t care about EC’s much anyway - with the exception being the uber-competitive ones as a way to pick between one 4.0/2400 and another. </p>
<p>You ARE expected to have a life too, and your EC’s are fine.</p>