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Over the last few years my Dad has often taken me to lunch at his club where I developed a healthy respect for the "Old Boys Net" and how it helps to have a connection. But, one thing that sort of surprised me was that while personnel types may tell you how they like to see extra curricular activities to indicate a well rounded candidate those with hiring authority were much more interested in GRADES, GRADES, GRADES! I have been told again and again that unless the "window dressing" reflected something very substantial they could really care less. The sort of thing that would impress them would be a high GPA, editorship of Law Review, a summer internship at the White House or with a Senator and a description of exactly what projects you worked on (making coffee for the staff cuts no ice). Being heavily involved in extras can backfire as this is seen as a frivalous distraction from serious business. These guys were pretty brutal in their comments and their advice to me was to demonstrate that I could stay focused and produce quality results under pressure.
They suggested that I let the letters on my ring speak for me and that if the person who was conducting the interrogation was interested he would notice and bring up the subject. Otherwise just mention two or three extras in passing where you had bragging rights to a notable accomplishment if they picked up on the theme. Mainly the emphasis was on grades and substantive accomplishment. As they used to say way back when Tom Earp was a kid, grimsville!
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