<p>Like many other people posted, ECs are a way to differentiate between all of the perfect SAT scores and 4.0 kids. I have a friend whose child had perfect Math SATs and perfect SATIIs in science. He got 5’s on all of his AP tests- all Math and Science based. He had no ECs to speak of at all. He assumed he was a shoe in at MIT and several other top tier schools. He was rejected from all. He is attending a well respected school, but it was not his first choice. </p>
<p>My D, on the other hand, had decent SATs and a good class rank. She was highly involved with leadership positions in HS. She was accepted to all of her colleges. She is involved in a few ECs in college, and is doing well. Academically and socially.</p>
<p>Many colleges use the number of clubs as marketing tools “We have over 400 clubs for students”. Who would want to attend a college the advertised “We have Zero clubs, but all of our students study all the time.”</p>