Extracurricular activities show that the student is a well-rounded person. A job is nice, but not likely right out of high school. Except fast food, which every kid usually has. If the kid did something different, it may matter more.
They are looking for better, not just average. Grades, GPA, etc matters, but its not everything.
And no, I didn't go to an Ivy League school. I went to a smaller private college, not even close to Ivy League.