<p>Leadership and creativity are not just shown in school. We had a student from our school a number of years ago who got accepted to Brown with a 3.00 average (don't know SATs). But he had published in the New Yorker. He has since gone on to publish more articles in major magazines as well as a book. Not long out of college,he is more accomplised than many of his classmates who had perfect grades and were president of the French club or whatever. So there are many ways to shine - not just through school. -and colleges know that.</p>