<p>In another thread someone said public schools don't care much about ECs. What about top public schools like UMich, UCs, UNC and UVA?</p>
<p>Top public schools care MORE about ECs, because like the top private schools they have to differentiate between a bunch of really good applicants. But relative to some private LAC, they still don’t care much.</p>
<p>UC’s don’t really care at all. Unless you’re #1 in a national contest in a field related to your major, it won’t help.</p>
<p>Many public schools have numbers based admissions for in-state students. Students with GPA of X in the right courses, and ACT/SAT of Y are automatically in. Students who fall outside that range might have to supply a more formal application complete with ECs, letters of recommendation, etc. There is another set of rules entirely for out-of-state students.</p>
<p>Check the websites of your home-state public Us, and find out what their policies are.</p>
<p>Don’t know about the others, but the UCs DO care some. They have plenty of applicants that look the same and the ECs do make a difference.</p>
<p>Very Important
UNC Chapel Hill</p>
<p>Important
UC system
UVA</p>
<p>Considered
Michigan</p>
<p>Source: Common Data Sets</p>
<p>I think the UC’s care about EC’s because they allow for consideration (leadership positions, etc.) in their admissions formula. Take a look at the UC’s that publish admission rubrics- you will see that different EC’s get different consideration.</p>