What's with the crazy ECs?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I have been looking at some of the "Rejected" from Ivy Leagues lists for ECs / Awards, and usually I find the following:
-- One or more of: Debate team / DECA / Tutoring / Student Council positions
-- Club leadership / Member of several clubs
-- Many, many hours of community service
-- Internship / Summer program<br>
-- NHS, AP Scholar, etc.
Then I look at "Accepted" people and those I know:
-- Maybe one or two of above, the one or two of following:
-- Excelled in sport: Varsity / Independent league / Sometimes national recognition
-- Theater / Acting at school and independently<br>
-- Instrument / Music interest
-- Time consuming activity that requires a lot of dedication
-- Developed mini-business / Invented or created something that received recognition
-- Something that builds upon a long-held interest, usually "out of the box" that shows strong independent drive (For example: musical composition, writing books / literature, etc.)</p>

<p>Essentially, I've noticed that a lot of people just do a ton of "stuff" because it is supposed to look good for college. So often these ECs lists contain a bunch of discrete activities that hardly tie to one another. Whenever I look at "Accepted" I see everything have a common goal, or two things someone has dedicated a huge amount of time to. Of course, there are people who get into prestigious colleges with the monster EC lists, but more often than not I see rejections. Instead, it seems that unique awards or activities that one is very good at tend to stand out. As a side note, I have notice that a several people exaggerate the importance or time spent on an activity (Student council organizations come to mind).
Why do people think that 300 community service hours plus a bunch of leadership positions equals top college? </p>

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<p>The more focused and passionate you are in your ec’s the better</p>

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<p>@1golfer1 because they are those people who don’t know what colleges want and all they hear is president of this and everything. I know a girl at my school who made a club that i signed up for 9th grade… she said they didn’t do anything cause she wanted to look good (it was a community service club) </p>

<p>Be involved in things that you like for fun. Don’t feel forced to join it. If you suck at sports don’t join cause you think you need it for college. Unfortunately that is not the case these days and now everyone fights for an ivy league spot</p>

<p>Now people say it doesn’t matter where you go but apparently it does to these people. Ive seen miserable people go to ‘good’ (okay more like top and prestigious) colleges but ultimately suffered their hs life</p>

<p>Do what you like and have fun!!</p>

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<p>I completely agree! Colleges aren’t stupid, they know how kids work. They know a majority of the activities on these resumes are only for show. </p>