Originally Posted by Tigerle
Didn't the extracurricular thing originally develop early in the last century because the ivies wanted to keep the "Jewish swots" from being admitted in large numbers? I think I once read something to that effect. They overwhelmingly brought the better academic credentials with them but at least country clubs could be relied on to keep them out of tennis and riding lessons. Officially, admission officials talked about leadership, though. These days, the disadvantaged ethnic group would probably Asian kids.
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/162144/Ivy_League_Admissions.html
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chosen-Admission-Exclusion-Princeton/dp/061877355X