<p>How much do you think ECs mean once you are out of the supercompetitive 25% and lower admit rate schools? From what level down can you get away with not having been a Nobel Prize winner or having cured cancer in 10th grade? The top level kids here on CC amazes me when they list all the ECs. Personally, I can't see how some kids find time to sleep with their seeming endless lists of ECs. </p>
<p>My D is a sophomore, and is at a level below that of the typical poster, but I think more in line with what might be many of the lurkers here on CC. She is top 10% at a medium size public not known for producing too many Ivy Leaguers. She should have a 3.75 GPA UW and probably a 4.3 or so weighted after this year. She will take 5 or 6 APs by the time she graduates, and I will guess will be around 1800 on the SAT. She's been in the musical, has been a 9th grade and JV cheerleader, and will be a 4 year letter winner and most likely school record holder in track which she wants to continue doing in college along with 3 years/letters in cross country. She definitely wants to pursue the track competitively, so it seems like a D3 school will be the best fit for her, as I can't see her being competitive even at lower level D1. She also does indoor track although the state does not recognize it as a championship sport and it is not varsity. She will most likely cheer again in 12th grade, and probably try out for the musical or play or something else along the way. She has been on the school newspaper, and was on the middle school yearbook, so I could see her getting into that again. Without going on a Peace Corps mission in the summer or spending a summer researching at sea, can she hope to get into a Washington and Lee or a Gettysburg or CMU by doing what she's doing? Or should she just concentrate on the next level. I don't want to see her doing something other than having fun as a kid and pursuing the things that she wants, forcing ECs that look good on an application.</p>
<p>2nd half of the question. How do sports ECs compare with music, community service, etc. At one time I think sports used to be looked down on compared to fine arts and volunteering. To be successful at many of the competitive ECs like sports or music takes a huge time commitment. Is doing one of these and having a few fringe ECs OK? Where does the line between passionate EC and not well rounded begin and end?</p>