Importance of extracurricular activities in admissions decisions

[Anonymous]

I saw this on the College Confidential website in one of the parent forums -- it's talking about the importance of extracurricular (EC) activities for boarding school applicants, but it seems that it would ring true for day school students as well. Schools have sports, clubs, theater, service-learning, etc. -- they want kids who go beyond academics! They want kids who will be a part of the broader school community. Here's the quote from a parent ---

"ECs are important and being a violin virtuoso, for example, is a huge plus but not a requirement. These schools are smaller than most public schools. Absent Exeter and Andover, most are much, much smaller yet they offer so much more - more sports options, more performing arts options, plus things like debate, MUN, etc. A well rounded kid with the academic chops needed who can contribute in various nonacademic areas will be looked at favorably. The more boxes your child can check off the better. Good grades and test scores - check. Can contribute to the soccer and tennis teams - check. Can play in the orchestra and band - check. A proven student leader - check. Name your kids activity that has a boarding school corollary - check. More checks can help increase your chances. This isn't college with thousands of students where they can build a class from pointy students. They need well rounded students in addition to the kid who will be first chair in the orchestra. Active current engagement in multiple ECs indicates a student who is willing to try new things and who will be engaged in their new boarding school community. Schools with 300-600 students need kids who are going to dabble in multiple areas. There will be activities and sports where very few students have prior exposure. The crew team, for example, depends on first timers trying out to build the boats for future years. They need the type of kids who come across as the type who are willing to go try something they've never done before. They need doers."