How can my friend do with perfect grades, but lacking with Ec's?

<p>My friend is a junior in the IB Program. he is taking the absolute hardest classes. This year alone he is taking IB, Calc, Chem II, Physcis and a bunch of other crazy crap. He has an unweighted 4.0 so far trhough halfway of his junior year. On his SAT, first try, he got a 1350. He's also #1 in the class, and he is the only person whi is #1. However, he sort of lacks in unique EC's. He started a prgram at a hospital, a couple of leadership positions, but nothing really spectacular. Will he still have a shot at schools like HPY, MIT, Duke ect? His recomendations and essays should be amazing.</p>

<p>If he gets his SAT up, he'll have a shot.</p>

<p>Lacking ECs and low SATs are a deadly combo.</p>