<p>^I agree with you in general but a good counter argument is simply that a correlation between ECs and success doesn’t mean ECs cause success. </p>
<p>No way of knowing if doing those things that makes a difference later OR if the kinds of kids who do those things in school are also just the kind who will be successful later on. </p>
<p>For example, kids who can juggle ECs with school, or kids who have the type of personality and outside interests that lead them into ECs, or kids from families that encourage ECs, might just be the kids who also will be successful (so ECs are correlated with future success but not causing it).</p>