<p>grades and everything else aside, will it? everyone trying to get into a T20 college or something like it has these long lists of crazy ECs, and they're a leader of a lot of them. truth is, i'm just not the leader type. will a top college not take me because i didn't show leadership? i mean...this has been bugging me lately...everyone who gets into a good school can't ALL be leaders of a zillion things, can they? help. i'm freaking out!</p>
<p>leadership or achievement… Pick one. Having both is better, but if you are accomplished at some activity (arts, science, what-have-you) and have won recognition for your talents then you are a competitive candidate. </p>
<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html</a> You’ll see that many of the items she mentions are about accomplishment.</p>
<p>Now if you have neither, probably not good…</p>
<p>Top schools will look to see if applicants will enhance their community. If somehow you’ve conveyed this to them, then you’ll be noticed. Sometimes this happens in extraordinary leadership, other times it’s shown in other more amorphous and subjective ways. Hard to say.</p>
<p>But NO, just a laundry list of resume padding clubs doesn’t wow anyone. The ability to affect others profoundly does.</p>
<p>thanks so much, great answers. i feel a lot better now.</p>