<p>If you were an admissions counsellor, would you accept someone who has high grades but average ECs, cliche/ boring essay or someone who has below average scores and excellent ECs and very interesting essays?</p>
<p>Second one</p>
<p>It would depend on if they spelled counselor correctly. ;)</p>
<p>Most highly selective schools won’t have to make this choice. They will have plenty of applicants who have high stats and are interesting, engaged people who write well.</p>
<p>Who is my employer? How selective are they? I may very well want both or neither depending on this vital distinction.</p>
<p>OP: Obviously you have someone in mind and you also consider yourself one of those examples. Really, you should not worry about things that are out of your control.</p>