<p>Outside of the Texas state schools, the answer is rigor, rigor rigor, with high grades, so your parents are more correct in their answer. The fools who think it’s all about ECs will be shocked when they attend all those info sessions where they tell you the three biggies are rigor, grades, test scores, in that order, and if you pass that screen, we’ll take a look at ECs. Unless you’re really good with a ball, and then that’s #1.</p>