<p>i'm so happy i started CCing after i was done with first semester senior year... I maintained a life free from all YOUR "requirements"... but i digress... college admissions are the most horrible case study in causality that i can possibly think of. do they accept top ten percent because they write better essays and get better recs, or do they look at recs and essays as a factor because top ten percent usually does better? sats or gpa? or both affecting ECs?!?!? it's crazy... and i'm bored and nervous that i'm going to end up going to state university. do ppl from "better" schools perform more successfully in life because they got a better education or because they were the ones who were motivated and intelligent enough to get into the "better" schools? sigh...
T_T</p>
<p>You are indeed very bored.</p>
<p>The colleges are looking for students whom they think will succeed there and take most advantage of what they have to offer. For prestigious colleges this means:</p>
<p>High GPA/SAT to show that the student can survive in an academically challenging environment.</p>
<p>In-depth extra-curriculars to show that the student has passion and is motivated, and therefore will take advantage of the college.</p>
<p>Essays to show that the student has demonstrated a certain level of writing skills, which is essential in most courses in college. This also allows a student's character to shine through, as colleges are trying to build not only a diverse campus, but also one with certain principles which they uphold.</p>
<p>Recommendations to see how the student is as a person, from other perspectives.</p>
<p>Less prestigious schools are on average, academically less demanding so excellence in these above fields are not scrutinized as closely.</p>
<p>Do any of these determine future success? To a degree, but of course there are always plenty of exceptions. Do colleges determine future success? Somewhat, but we all know that the individual's character, which got him/her into the college in the first place, is probably the top factor in determining his/her future.</p>