<p>I think it is the parent's job to try to introduce new things and to provide opportunities and choices. Most schools also do a pretty good job in providing activities. I think there is not much good that comes from pushing kids into activities. Usually this is meet with resistance and creates unhappy kids. For the vast majority of college admissions, EC's are of little value. Most decisions are made largely on the basis of SATs and school performance. State schools often follow rigid criteria. That makes admission decisions predictable and defensible. </p>
<p>A few very selective schools have a huge surplus of applicants with great SATs, gpas and high class rank. For these schools, ECs and essays can make all the difference. I am sure that if any of us were making the decisions we would act the same way. I certainly would pick someone who appeared to be a mover and shaker over another student who appeared more plodding and a dull bookworm. Among the applicants to the very selective colleges, there are a majority of kids who are BWRKs with laundry lists of activities and accomplishments. Letters in a few sports, club activities and 10 years of playing a musical instrument just aren't enough for a kid to stand out. Trying to position a kid for an Ivy acceptance just seems to be a losing game. It makes a lot more sense to try to select the schools that fit the kid and where there is a reasonable chance of being accepted.</p>