<p>To state the obvious, the elite colleges want high level achievers of every kind. If you’re mediocre in academics and/or just average in your primary field of extracurricular endeavor–whether it be a sport, community service, or performing arts–you’re unlikely to be admitted. For recruitment to elite schools, the top athletes must also be very good students and probably have some other noteworthy accomplishment. Being class president appears to work for athletes in my area to get into Princeton and UPenn.</p>
<p>I can’t prove this, but it seems that the talent combination of high achievement in athletics + high achievement in academics is harder to find in students than a combination of top academics with exceptional music ability, journalistic talent, or debating skill. That could be why it seems that academics are “so valued.”</p>