Best Private School Sports for College Admissions?

[Anonymous]

Can't say what sports are "best" but I know someone whose son just started at a near-Ivy college where he'll be playing squash. The kid has played around US and in South America. Also know someone who was recruited to play golf at an Ivy. The point it -- it's definitely not just the mainstream sports where recruiting/money are available.

[Anonymous]

squash, water polo, crew, sailing, golf, swimming, lacrosse, field hockey are prime examples

...does not require a tremendous amount of pure athleticism, not overcrowded, less competitive in the long haul, and all the colleges and universities that count (with ivy gardens and large endowments) have teams with seats to fill. all the kids in fancy private schools and suburban public schools know this..this is their ultimate hook...it's a simple matter of statistics (game theory)

...to water down current elitism at these kinds of colleges and level the playing grounds I highly recommend that inner city and rural public school students, home schooled students, charter-schooled students seriously consider taking up these sports in primary and secondary school. This "differing" skill set may make a huge impact on the choice of colleges one applies to and ultimately matriculates at.

Of course, there are frightened denying naysayers simply petrified by this new competition and the diminishing American dream for unatheletic entitled draft dodging Trust fund babies...a la Trump and brothers.

You cannot hide. We will find you even as you are increasingly escaping to retreats in Vermont (e.g., Middlebury), New Hampshire (e.g., Dartmouth) and Maine (E.g., Bowdoin)!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:squash, water polo, crew, sailing, golf, swimming, lacrosse, field hockey are prime examples

...does not require a tremendous amount of pure athleticism, not overcrowded, less competitive in the long haul, and all the colleges and universities that count (with ivy gardens and large endowments) have teams with seats to fill. all the kids in fancy private schools and suburban public schools know this..this is their ultimate hook...it's a simple matter of statistics (game theory)

...to water down current elitism at these kinds of colleges and level the playing grounds I highly recommend that inner city and rural public school students, home schooled students, charter-schooled students seriously consider taking up these sports in primary and secondary school. This "differing" skill set may make a huge impact on the choice of colleges one applies to and ultimately matriculates at.

Of course, there are frightened denying naysayers simply petrified by this new competition and the diminishing American dream for unatheletic entitled draft dodging Trust fund babies...a la Trump and brothers.

You cannot hide. We will find you even as you are increasingly escaping to retreats in Vermont (e.g., Middlebury), New Hampshire (e.g., Dartmouth) and Maine (E.g., Bowdoin)!!

You've obviously never seen college field hockey or squash or water polo if you think those sports don't require athleticism. Your post is, of course, fairly crazy, but it would be wonderful to see broader sports participation in this country. Not because of college advantages but because of the health benefits to kids and the emotional benefits (especially for girls) of playing a sport.

[Anonymous]

You've obviously never seen college field hockey or squash or water polo if you think those sports don't require athleticism. Your post is, of course, fairly crazy, but it would be wonderful to see broader sports participation in this country. Not because of college advantages but because of the health benefits to kids and the emotional benefits (especially for girls) of playing a sport.

You are spot on. I never saw these sports vicariously, I actually played a few of them through high school and college. I can attest that the average kid (no quick or explosive hops) participating in these activities in the years leading up to the college application will have minimal issues making a varsity team --- at least at a leading division 3 "ivy" college. I was one of them. I can also attest these activities/sports/hobbies provide remarkable health care and emotional benefits (including daily walking throughout life). But, there are also definite admission benefits to admission officers filling their classes with students (many of whom represent the school and alma mater participating on these teams). The fact that kids and their parents spend tons on prepping activities and SAT/ACT review underlies the importance of college admission in our society so don't stick you head in sand. These activities will help you get into college. This has nothing to do with health (at 18 years of age) but everything to do with getting into college for most.

[Anonymous]

Point made. Consider the money spent on tutoring for prep and on year round club sports when sweating and exercise for health can be real dirt cheap if one goes out an runs the stairs. The fact remains 18 year-olds and their parents can't put this on their college applications and get a college referral and reference from a Coach!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

Which private schools in the area have decent squash programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Point made. Consider the money spent on tutoring for prep and on year round club sports when sweating and exercise for health can be real dirt cheap if one goes out an runs the stairs. The fact remains 18 year-olds and their parents can't put this on their college applications and get a college referral and reference from a Coach!!

Test prep and running around alone... Good plan.

[Anonymous]

Full scholarship D1 swimmer. If you have summer league and some year-round swimming starting in middle school (not every day). You can excel if there is commitment at the begining of high shool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

Which private schools in the area have decent squash programs?

Potomac, Episcopal, Madeira, NCS, St Albans, plus some of the public schools like Whitman. Look in the CIVL league for participating schools. Potomac and Episcopal have their own courts, most other schools use squash clubs.

[Anonymous]

Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

The point is made you can be of fair and average athletic talent at best and if you start early enough (middle and high school) with these activities it's not an insurmountable challenge to ride this skill set into "Ivy" admission and a varsity roster spot. I would not bank on this strategy for basketball, football and track!
It's easy enough to play squash for Princeton as Podunk U doesn't have a squash or water polo team!

Delusions aside, even some purists around here can load their children up on club teams (lacrosse, swimming, squash, and golf) chasing trinkets and ribbons solely for health reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

The point is made you can be of fair and average athletic talent at best and if you start early enough (middle and high school) with these activities it's not an insurmountable challenge to ride this skill set into "Ivy" admission and a varsity roster spot. I would not bank on this strategy for basketball, football and track!
It's easy enough to play squash for Princeton as Podunk U doesn't have a squash or water polo team!

Delusions aside, even some purists around here can load their children up on club teams (lacrosse, swimming, squash, and golf) chasing trinkets and ribbons solely for health reasons.

Please stop shopping this line.

It is NOT accurate any more. Your knowledge is dated at best. I was an all-Ivy athlete/team MVP in the late 1980s (a woman's team sport). I would not make the roster now, and would be hard-pressed to make the roster at a strong Division III program. If you look at strong athletes at area independent schools, the coaches will tell you that this generation's NESCAC player (the multiple all-ISL player who is 5'6" and not 6", and not All-Met), was a former generation's Ivy athlete. In the 1980s, still fairly early days from a Title IX perspective, a determined and competent athlete, particularly in women's sports, could often find a roster spot. Recruiting was fairly haphazard and coaches relied in large part on athletes of strong academic standing self-identifying. Now, recruiting has become "industrialized." Coaches used to hopefully see a few dozen players (the assistant coach driving around the East Coach in a rental car). Now they can see hundreds and even thousands of athletes at club tournaments, showcase events, and it is also easier for players to send in game tape (just upload to YouTube). The number of roster spots are the same but the pool has increased exponentionally. The team at my alma mater in my sport looks like Amazons now! (In the best possible way -- they are BIG BIG BIG and STRONG and FAST and very, very skilled.)

Bottom line: The Ivies are Division I. They require size, speed, and athleticism. At the Division III schools you might be able to have a little less speed or a little less size but you need to be very, very good -- Ivy league starter or even all-Ivy caliber a generation ago.

It is easier to play squash for Princeton than basketball for Duke, but it is not easy. An average or even above average athlete who has played sports since childhood will NOT be good enough to get a look at Princeton, in large part because squash is a sport with a very big international presence. Many Ivy league teams have very few American players. Check out the crew roster for the Harvard heavys -- lots of international athletes. There is a growing international presence for women's sports as well.

Parents -- you don't need to take this on faith (me or the other anonymous poster -- who can tell, right?). Go to a roster for field hockey, or squash, or lacrosse. You will see names and hometowns (and the international presence). For most schools, the Sports Information Dept. has a blurb for each athlete and you will be able to see Under Armour All-American status; junior national team status; all-state status; tennis and squash rankings. You will see the credentials are very, very impressive. And you will see some very strong credentials for Division III teams as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

Which private schools in the area have decent squash programs?

Here's the Harvard men's squash roster:

http://gocrimson.com/sports/msquash/2015-16/roster

Majority are international, including from UK, Ireland, Trinidad, Egypt, India, South Africa, Canada. Typical resume of an American player? One player was Under-17 national champion. Another had a #3 national ranking. Another is a 4-time U.S. Junior World Team member.

You can't just play a bunch of squash and have that help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squash. My DH grew up in a squash "hotbed" and many of the kids at his school and neighboring schools got into Ivy League schools by playing.

Let me guess, Brooklyn Heights?

[Anonymous]

Please stop shopping this line.

It is NOT accurate any more. Your knowledge is dated at best. I was an all-Ivy athlete/team MVP in the late 1980s (a woman's team sport). I would not make the roster now, and would be hard-pressed to make the roster at a strong Division III program. If you look at strong athletes at area independent schools, the coaches will tell you that this generation's NESCAC player (the multiple all-ISL player who is 5'6" and not 6", and not All-Met), was a former generation's Ivy athlete. In the 1980s, still fairly early days from a Title IX perspective, a determined and competent athlete, particularly in women's sports, could often find a roster spot. Recruiting was fairly haphazard and coaches relied in large part on athletes of strong academic standing self-identifying. Now, recruiting has become "industrialized." Coaches used to hopefully see a few dozen players (the assistant coach driving around the East Coach in a rental car). Now they can see hundreds and even thousands of athletes at club tournaments, showcase events, and it is also easier for players to send in game tape (just upload to YouTube). The number of roster spots are the same but the pool has increased exponentionally. The team at my alma mater in my sport looks like Amazons now! (In the best possible way -- they are BIG BIG BIG and STRONG and FAST and very, very skilled.)

Bottom line: The Ivies are Division I. They require size, speed, and athleticism. At the Division III schools you might be able to have a little less speed or a little less size but you need to be very, very good -- Ivy league starter or even all-Ivy caliber a generation ago.

It is easier to play squash for Princeton than basketball for Duke, but it is not easy. An average or even above average athlete who has played sports since childhood will NOT be good enough to get a look at Princeton, in large part because squash is a sport with a very big international presence. Many Ivy league teams have very few American players. Check out the crew roster for the Harvard heavys -- lots of international athletes. There is a growing international presence for women's sports as well.

Parents -- you don't need to take this on faith (me or the other anonymous poster -- who can tell, right?). Go to a roster for field hockey, or squash, or lacrosse. You will see names and hometowns (and the international presence). For most schools, the Sports Information Dept. has a blurb for each athlete and you will be able to see Under Armour All-American status; junior national team status; all-state status; tennis and squash rankings. You will see the credentials are very, very impressive. And you will see some very strong credentials for Division III teams as well.

Nonsense. We know 2020 is different from 1980 in terms of standards. This applies to the Ivies as well as the SEC or Big Ten. That said, golf, water polo, squash, tennis, sailing etc. all remain easier activities and hooks for the average athlete who begins early enough before their college application to the big and little "Ivies". This was true in the 1970s and 80s and and it is true in the 20 teens. Much easier than trying for the SEC or Big Ten in football, basketball and Track for the barely average athlete. Fact.

[Anonymous]

Nonsense. We know 2020 is different from 1980 in terms of standards. This applies to the Ivies as well as the SEC or Big Ten. That said, golf, water polo, squash, tennis, sailing etc. all remain easier activities and hooks for the average athlete who begins early enough before their college application to the big and little "Ivies". This was true in the 1970s and 80s and and it is true in the 20 teens. Much easier than trying for the SEC or Big Ten in football, basketball and Track for the barely average athlete. Fact.

You can add crew/rowing, swimming, lacrosse and a few others...I'm sure in my neighborhood Vegas would put their money on these hooks (begun early) to big and little Ivy for their kids. It's about probability, stats and less competition!!!