What does it take to get into an Ivy League college? ..Are skills really important?

Everyone applying to the top schools has the highest grades in the hardest classes and very high test scores, and they take maybe 10% of them. You need that, and you need a lot more. Joining a few generic clubs won't do anything for your resume; they're looking for great activities, things that make you stand out, experience in your intended major, research experience, publications, major awards, things like that. You do NOT need to attend a top school in order to be successful. They choose students who look likely to be successful; they don't make them successful. If you're going to succeed, you'll succeed at any college, and if you're not going to, an ivy won't change that.