Made some questionable decisions regarding academics and wondering if my ECs will help close the gap

[skieurope]

If I were to apply to MIT, Yale, UPenn, and UC Berkeley (these are just my top schools), would my ECs cover up for my subject test scores and put me on an equal or higher playing field than other students who have stellar grades and scores but less ECs?

No.

Here’s the banger

Actually, here’s the banger:

I am a 17-year-old Chinese male attending a rigorous, math-and-science-focused high school ranked #2 in my state and above #120 in the nation. My classmates and friends are highly-competitive college-focused students and all have stellar academics.

So I assume that you will not be the only applicant from your HS to MIT, UPenn, etc. While they all practice holistic admissions, the first thing they will look at is academics and test scores. If other applicants from your HS have higher stats, it’s likely that they will be viewed more favorably. That said, you could still be admitted. But you, like many applicants, should ensure that your list includes matches and safeties. Good luck.