<p>Which of the following plays a greater role in the admissions process, extracurricular activities or essays/interview? I understand both are very important in learning about what kind of person you are outside of school, but which is weighed heavier in the process? Also, would a school be able to see what sort of opportunities are available to them via the school profile or something else?</p>
<p>bumping this thread</p>
<p>I think the answer to your question is the perennially unsatisfying “It depends.”</p>
<p>Actually, I don’t think this is a question that can be answered by anyone but an admissions officer…and even then, it will be very specific to the individual and the school at which he/she works.</p>
<p>Anything you’re going to get in in the way of responses here will only be conjecture…just keep that in mind. Best of luck!</p>
<p>There is no answer to your question. Schools admit students, not lists.</p>
<p>Actually I think its fairly easy to answer the OP. Essays/interview weigh much more heavily in admissions than the extracurricular activities of the student. UNLESS what the Ecs consist of, defines the student. Ie if a child is a prodigy of some sort, and his/her entire focus is to follow that talent, then obviously that defines the kid. Of course, generally that type of a kid will not be looking at boarding schools, since prodigy level talent is best grown individually, not in a community setting.
Half the students apply out of 8th grade - at that point most of the ecs that they can achieve are parent/middle school dependent. Boarding schools understand that and count them accordingly.</p>
<p>Well said @Periwinkle!</p>
<p>@mhmm yes but there are a lot of recruited athletes coming in as freshmen… In that sense, yes, ECs count a ton</p>
<p>^^ which is why i put the prodigy caveat. I will also say that percentage wide there are not that many recruited athletes, and not at all the top schools.</p>
<p>Mhmm, I think one’s perception of the percentage of recruited athletes varies by hometown. Many of the students accepted by boarding schools from my oldest child’s public school have been outstanding athletes, especially hockey players. This might be a difference between the suburbs and the city.</p>
<p>^^ I guess I was thinking of the recruited athletes as percent of the incoming class. However my data is purely empirical.
And, yes, I would imagine where there are fields from thence come athletes…</p>