Definitely not.(went to Yale). I had great grades (valedictorian) and decent standardized test scores. Some leadership in ECs, but not any time consuming ones. But I was able to get those without working hard. The amount of homework required at our high school is mind boggling. I don’t know that I would have been motivated to do all that work, ace my classes, and do all the intense activities that kids do these today. My kid is rarely home before 7 with EC’s, and she has started her own business!. When I was in hs, outside of school I mostly hung out with friends and read (a lot - mostly classics).