| I come at this from a little bit different angle. If we have learned anything in the last few years, it is that there are a TON of statistically great students coming out of high school. As a result, students that previously relied on only an academic record and were rewarded with admissions are now being outflanked by students with equal or similar levels of classroom/standardized test achievement, but who can also bring more to the college's campuses.
Colleges like to have smart students, but they like even more to have smart students who will contribute to a college's campus during their undergraduate years (and also have the orientation to contribute as alumni). If a student does not have a record of contributing to his/her high school environment or local environment, then this student will almost surely be at a deficit to an equally talented student who also brings this to the table. This contribution will be seen in the ECs that a student has participated in and in the recommendations (and perhaps the essays). For acceptance to the most elite universities, I think that having such examples are now absolutely vital. |