Is it necessary to participate in competitions to get into elite colleges in the US?

Answered

Hi, the definitive answer is that you do not have to participate in competitions to get accepted into an Ivy League or Elite College. It's nice to have but not necessary. I wouldn't say that this aspect of your college application is significantly less important than submitting a high SAT or ACT score or having a good number of APs or IBs (+ great AP/IB test scores). While almost every school considers those later things optional, they definitely improve your chances of getting admitted into a T20 college.

In the order of importance for most Ivys/Elites would be:

Academics

1. Grades

2. Course Rigor

3. Standardized test scores

4. Intellectual Vitality or Curiosity

ECs

1. Leadership Positions in school-based activities

a.) School President or Class President, Editor in Chief, Team Captain,

b.)Less impressive is MUN, DECA, Pres. of a club or affinity group.

c.) Least impressive are members or lower leadership positions

2. Community Service

a.) Board Member of a City or School Council

b.) Founder of a community service organization.

c.) Least impressive is just being a member and participating

3.) Volunteering

a.) Starting a non-profit to help people, animals, the environment, and other causes

b.) The least impressive is just doing hours for sake of resume building

4.) Passion projects, hobbies, or Spikes

a.) World, National or State level ability for arts, music, sciences as evidenced by winning competitions

b.) Regional or City level competitions.

5.) Sports

a) Team Captain of 1 or more Varsity Sports

b) Star player of 1 or more Varsity Sports

c.) Team member of Varsity sports

d.) Junior Varsity level or lower.

e.) Least impressive is no sports

Other attributes that matter in the application process are interviews, essays, recommendations, and evidence of strong personal character and integrity.

Remember that if you are applying to an Ivy, only 5.26% got admitted the last cycle on average and if you are applying to an Elite, it's like 4 to 8% range. If you are applying to a Top Liberal Arts college, it's in the 7.8-10% range. Most admits didn't compete in many competitions unless performing arts was their spike or if they were super clever in STEM and wanted to get into CALTECH, MIT.

As an Int'l make sure you have a very strong test score for your English proficiency, that always helps, and many Int'l students underestimated that one of the most important skills you can bring to the admissions table is your ability to write and speak intelligently, articulately and eloquently.

Good luck

Honestly, I don't believe that being in competitions makes or breaks an application, rather the grades and test scores. Although going into an academic competition and winning, that would look good on any application. For your second question, if you want to, do it. No one is stopping you. Wish you the best of luck.