Hi , I’m currently in my final year of high school and will be doing A - levels after I graduate high school. I still have 2-3 years before I do apply to university. It has always been my dream to go to a reputable US university or an Ivy League to pursuer engineering. I have heard that A-levels will represent the high school grades and SAT’s will represent test scores ( for international students ). I will probably ace it if I work hard enough. But the problem is I don’t have a strong list of extracurricular activities and I’m worried it’s too late to start now. I have never won anything outstanding in my 5 years of high school except for participating in a few competitions and science carnivals. I did regularly attend weekly meetings of my clubs and societies but was never awarded a high position . If I do start now , what extracurricular activities should I do ? I’m not really a sporty/athletic person. I do genuinely like helping people and doing charity work / tutoring and educating underprivileged kids for free. But I’m not sure that counts as outstanding. 
can anybody help me out on this …
Even with standout EC activities and achievements, anyone’s chances at either an ivy or a top engineering college are very slim at best. Starting activities senior year isn’t likely to be much help, because most applications go in sometime between October and January. Your best chance is to “stretch” in the activities in which you are already participating, keep volunteering, and “market” what you have done in the best possible light. Write a great essay (start now - some of the prompts have been announced and/or will be very soon) and get superior letters of recomendation. Leadership is about guiding and inspiring, not necessarily having a title in a club, so don’t sell yourself short in the volunteering you have done. There are colleges in the US that will be happy to take you, but they are unlikely to be ivies.
European universities are heavily stats-focused, so if a prestigious name is truly what is important to you, look for matches there.
You have about 2 years (last year of lower secondary, first year of ALevels) to expand on what you’re doing. However in order to have a shot at any top 25 university or LAC in the US you need to do something exceptional - create a system that helps improve lower income girls’ literacy (or whatever group has less access or has prejudices against them), fight -effectively- early marriage in your community, build a community library or garden, develop a sustainable way to do x or z in your town… Read The boy who harnessed the wind for instance.
What subjects are you going to do for ALevels? (You increase your odds of admission if you’re one of the few students who’s interested in the Humanities and social sciences.)
Leadership
When I was a senior in HS, I was a 4 yr Varsity soccer goalie. The coach picked captains, and it wasn’t me. I was mildly disappointed. In College, they started a Women’s varsity soccer team (this was way back). I helped recruit players, I showed players kicking techniques. Not because I was trying to get anything out of it for myself, but because I wanted our team to succeed. I was named Captain. Then I was ready…I was showing leadership.
Leadership can be President of a club or Captain of the Team or Section Leader in Band. But it can also be:
-Student involved in ethnic community center for years and then is asked to teach little kids
-Actual officer in a club
-Watched his little brother after school and encouraged parents to sign up brother for sports team and took him to practice
-Within a club, organized an activity for that club
-Led a community service activity
-Lead singer of a band - sings, chooses set list, organizes transportation for other members
-Summer Camp counselor
-Boy Scout Eagle Award/Girl Scout Gold Award
-EMT Cadet
-Boys State/Girls State
-Tutors others