Re post #5. It didn’t strike me so much as a value system as a warning about the fact that spending 4 years of HS single-mindedly devoted to getting into an ivy, even if you get in, can totally burn you out. We’ve seen a number of posts from both students and parents about that over the years. Here is one example.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/22847886#Comment_22847886
I feel heartbroken when I read accounts like this. It’s fine having a goal, but burning yourself out doing things you don’t want to do for four years to achieve it can be terrible mental-health wise. (OP was asking specifically about what ECs, clubs etc would look good for ivies, indicating potentially heading down this path.) My daughter had a classmate like this, got into a bunch of top schools and ended up going to a large OOS public (well “below” his capability) because he was burnt out after HS and wanted to actually enjoy studying and student life for a while. Of course, kids can and do enjoy high school and still get into ivies as well. Balance and having eyes wide open is always a good thing, regardless of goal.