What extracurriculars would you *not* mention, because they reek of privilege/other negatives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forbade DS from mentioning his extensive video gaming time, unless he could somehow write a great essay about it. He couldn't, so that got shelved. It's not like he won a gaming championship, or was a YouTuber with millions of followers.

Anything that get you noticed is worth mentioning, but only if there's a measurable achievement you can point to.

All my kids have ridden horses, but again, it's just a hobby, no eventing or anything.

I am the first videogame PP.
so what do I do if my DS has a measurable achievement in about nothing?
He draws and wrestles but it’s all recreational. He is passionate about videogames though lol

Recreational drawing and wrestling are fine to mention, if that is all he has. At least it shows breadth of interests.

Regarding the video games - you may be able to put a spin on it depending on what he plays and if he’s involved in online communities. My DS used it in his personal statement for Pitt (accepted). Talked a little about the pandemic and virtual year which cut him off from several activities. For one of the games he enjoys playing a lot, he also spends time leading groups of new players to teach them how to play the scenarios, so they can join more experienced players. He spoke about how it was hard for him to get up to speed (and experienced players can be mean), so he wanted to help others. Video games seem pointless to a lot of adults, but they can involve communication, planning, leadership, and programming. This generation has grown up with them - it’s going to be more common that it is a main activity.

Thank you, this is very helpful. Yes DS is active in online communities and produces fan art

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forbade DS from mentioning his extensive video gaming time, unless he could somehow write a great essay about it. He couldn't, so that got shelved. It's not like he won a gaming championship, or was a YouTuber with millions of followers.

Anything that get you noticed is worth mentioning, but only if there's a measurable achievement you can point to.

All my kids have ridden horses, but again, it's just a hobby, no eventing or anything.

I am the first videogame PP.
so what do I do if my DS has a measurable achievement in about nothing?
He draws and wrestles but it’s all recreational. He is passionate about videogames though lol

Recreational drawing and wrestling are fine to mention, if that is all he has. At least it shows breadth of interests.

Regarding the video games - you may be able to put a spin on it depending on what he plays and if he’s involved in online communities. My DS used it in his personal statement for Pitt (accepted). Talked a little about the pandemic and virtual year which cut him off from several activities. For one of the games he enjoys playing a lot, he also spends time leading groups of new players to teach them how to play the scenarios, so they can join more experienced players. He spoke about how it was hard for him to get up to speed (and experienced players can be mean), so he wanted to help others. Video games seem pointless to a lot of adults, but they can involve communication, planning, leadership, and programming. This generation has grown up with them - it’s going to be more common that it is a main activity.

100% agree. People think it’s silly but it involves all those skills you mentioned. Schools are giving scholarships for esports and it is a varsity level sport at some schools as well.

Does your child’s high school have an Esports team or club? That would obviously be one way to include it in an application.

Also, fyi, here is a recent study released:
“Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children”
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/video-gaming-may-be-associated-better-cognitive-performance-children

Thank you, no w sports team that I know of, we’ve both been looking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forbade DS from mentioning his extensive video gaming time, unless he could somehow write a great essay about it. He couldn't, so that got shelved. It's not like he won a gaming championship, or was a YouTuber with millions of followers.

Anything that get you noticed is worth mentioning, but only if there's a measurable achievement you can point to.

All my kids have ridden horses, but again, it's just a hobby, no eventing or anything.

I am the first videogame PP.
so what do I do if my DS has a measurable achievement in about nothing?
He draws and wrestles but it’s all recreational. He is passionate about videogames though lol

Well, DC wrote about their video game. They got in HYPSM. They just wrote why they felt like writing.

Thank you and congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the bozo who keeps insisting lacrosse is just for private school kids? Most publics across the country have lacrosse teams. It just isn't the rarefied sport you'd like to pretend it is.

In general, the only high level public school lacrosse is played in New York State and in the NYC suburbs. There's nothing wrong with this.

You must have missed the public schools around Baltimore and Southern Maryland that fill up top ten D1 programs. Agreed that the privates are even more competitive in area like Calvert Hall but plenty of elite level publics in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the bozo who keeps insisting lacrosse is just for private school kids? Most publics across the country have lacrosse teams. It just isn't the rarefied sport you'd like to pretend it is.

In general, the only high level public school lacrosse is played in New York State and in the NYC suburbs. There's nothing wrong with this.

You must have missed the public schools around Baltimore and Southern Maryland that fill up top ten D1 programs. Agreed that the privates are even more competitive in area like Calvert Hall but plenty of elite level publics in MD.

Some of the MCPS public school teams are very good. My child plays for one that is not good but they played some good teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got her private pilot’s license. Darn straight she’s including it in her activities. She wants to be an engineer, most likely aerospace. The girl loves flight. Straights As and in advanced classes and very strong in STEM. And feels most fulfilled in flight. And we’re fortunate to have a lot of money and to have been able to pay for flight lessons. Now she she’s starting to give back to through volunteering to fly for causes she believes in. It’s great.

Side track….this sounds so cool. My 9th grader DS is really interested in learning to fly, but we are relatively poor. Is there any way to get a private license for a young person if you don’t have a lot of money? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got her private pilot’s license. Darn straight she’s including it in her activities. She wants to be an engineer, most likely aerospace. The girl loves flight. Straights As and in advanced classes and very strong in STEM. And feels most fulfilled in flight. And we’re fortunate to have a lot of money and to have been able to pay for flight lessons. Now she she’s starting to give back to through volunteering to fly for causes she believes in. It’s great.

Side track….this sounds so cool. My 9th grader DS is really interested in learning to fly, but we are relatively poor. Is there any way to get a private license for a young person if you don’t have a lot of money? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have a child who will earn their PPL in the next few months (you have to be 17 - they're still 16.) I would look at Civil Air Patrol (there should be a chapter near you) -- my child did not participate in this, but I understand they offer scholarships and other ways of getting free or reduced cost air time. Also visit the FB group "Raising Aviation Teens" and the subreddit r/flying. Both of those list scholarships that can help. Another thing people do is go to a "cheaper" area (like Arizona) for a week and fly a few hours a day. This area is just super expensive for lessons, plane rental, and fuel. The only other general advice would be prepare for every lesson so you are getting the most out of it and can minimize the hours the child needs before they sit for the exams. (The minimum hours for a PPL is 40; the average is 55. My kid will probably be around 57 hours. I think they could have shaved off 4 hours or so if they had done more ground school prep early in the process, but we just didn't know.)

Oh, and before you get started, make sure your child can pass the medical clearance. There are a lot of things for which the FAA will deny a permit. Use of antidepressants, Adderall, etc. is a common one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got her private pilot’s license. Darn straight she’s including it in her activities. She wants to be an engineer, most likely aerospace. The girl loves flight. Straights As and in advanced classes and very strong in STEM. And feels most fulfilled in flight. And we’re fortunate to have a lot of money and to have been able to pay for flight lessons. Now she she’s starting to give back to through volunteering to fly for causes she believes in. It’s great.

Side track….this sounds so cool. My 9th grader DS is really interested in learning to fly, but we are relatively poor. Is there any way to get a private license for a young person if you don’t have a lot of money? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have a child who will earn their PPL in the next few months (you have to be 17 - they're still 16.) I would look at Civil Air Patrol (there should be a chapter near you) -- my child did not participate in this, but I understand they offer scholarships and other ways of getting free or reduced cost air time. Also visit the FB group "Raising Aviation Teens" and the subreddit r/flying. Both of those list scholarships that can help. Another thing people do is go to a "cheaper" area (like Arizona) for a week and fly a few hours a day. This area is just super expensive for lessons, plane rental, and fuel. The only other general advice would be prepare for every lesson so you are getting the most out of it and can minimize the hours the child needs before they sit for the exams. (The minimum hours for a PPL is 40; the average is 55. My kid will probably be around 57 hours. I think they could have shaved off 4 hours or so if they had done more ground school prep early in the process, but we just didn't know.)

Oh, and before you get started, make sure your child can pass the medical clearance. There are a lot of things for which the FAA will deny a permit. Use of antidepressants, Adderall, etc. is a common one.

Pp here whose daughter flies. Completely agree with what the poster above responded. Look to civil air patrol, and note, the different CAP programs are pretty different from each other so you may want to look at ones that might not be closest to your home if better for your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know for a while I was seriously thinking my DS needs to include playing video games becsuse it’s such a big part of his social life and his imagination. However I will probably refrain from advising him to do it. But I am tempted to put a spin on it you know!

In the same boat here, I think my kid is going to have to figure out a way to mention it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, I don't think of lacrosse as a rich people sport, but I'm from upstate NY where every public high school has a team.

Hi, fellow upstate NYer! Yes, definitely not a rich people sport where I grew up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I forbade DS from mentioning his extensive video gaming time, unless he could somehow write a great essay about it. He couldn't, so that got shelved. It's not like he won a gaming championship, or was a YouTuber with millions of followers.

Anything that get you noticed is worth mentioning, but only if there's a measurable achievement you can point to.

All my kids have ridden horses, but again, it's just a hobby, no eventing or anything.

I am the first videogame PP.
so what do I do if my DS has a measurable achievement in about nothing?
He draws and wrestles but it’s all recreational. He is passionate about videogames though lol

Recreational drawing and wrestling are fine to mention, if that is all he has. At least it shows breadth of interests.

Regarding the video games - you may be able to put a spin on it depending on what he plays and if he’s involved in online communities. My DS used it in his personal statement for Pitt (accepted). Talked a little about the pandemic and virtual year which cut him off from several activities. For one of the games he enjoys playing a lot, he also spends time leading groups of new players to teach them how to play the scenarios, so they can join more experienced players. He spoke about how it was hard for him to get up to speed (and experienced players can be mean), so he wanted to help others. Video games seem pointless to a lot of adults, but they can involve communication, planning, leadership, and programming. This generation has grown up with them - it’s going to be more common that it is a main activity.

100% agree. People think it’s silly but it involves all those skills you mentioned. Schools are giving scholarships for esports and it is a varsity level sport at some schools as well.

Does your child’s high school have an Esports team or club? That would obviously be one way to include it in an application.

Also, fyi, here is a recent study released:
“Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children”
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/video-gaming-may-be-associated-better-cognitive-performance-children

Thank you, no w sports team that I know of, we’ve both been looking!

DS's HS doesn't have e sports either. Anyone aware of e-sports teams/clubs in Northern VA that aren't associated with a school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Rich kids have a huge advantage in the college admissions process. Are you saying you'd hide the fact that you're rich out of equity concerns? Because you're putting address, your kid's school, and your occupations on the form. That's all they need to figure it out and for your kid to get the hook.

Right? This is not a real problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP - not a troll. My child does an activity that I mentioned, and another mom told me not to report it because (and I quote) "it smacks of privilege." I don't agree, but I wanted to get a sense of what other people think. And yes, I agree with the poster who said they know my address and such and can make some reasonable assumptions based on that.

m
My kid is an equestrian. She mentioned it. It’s her main activity. Otherwise, it looks like she does very little. You want to go somewhere that accepts your child as is. Why omit accomplishments?

Thanks - I agree. I think my "friend" is talking out her a$$ or just trying to sabotage my kid.

I would ignore advice from that "friend"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the bozo who keeps insisting lacrosse is just for private school kids? Most publics across the country have lacrosse teams. It just isn't the rarefied sport you'd like to pretend it is.

In general, the only high level public school lacrosse is played in New York State and in the NYC suburbs. There's nothing wrong with this.

You must have missed the public schools around Baltimore and Southern Maryland that fill up top ten D1 programs. Agreed that the privates are even more competitive in area like Calvert Hall but plenty of elite level publics in MD.

There are no "elite" public programs in Maryland.

You sometimes have "one-off" successes by public schools across the country (obviously), but the only consistently strong public programs are exactly where I stated in my previous post: Upstate NY and the NYC suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you draw the line at reporting something super-expensive (sailing, pilot's license, climbing internationally, equestrian)?
Or other things that just say "I'm rich" (unpaid internships, especially ones where you have to be connected -- banks, senators, etc.)?

You would mention all of these. There is nothing you would not mention. But you have an odd idea about what is rich stuff. Horses sort of but lots of people have horses and ride that do not have a lot of moeny. Sailing is not rich. We gre up poor ont he coast and we had a sailboat and on a team at the local club that cost $25 to join. Flying is not for rich people and neither is climbing. Those types of interships you mention do not exist junior year of high school.

Sure they do. My son interned for a senator beginning in spring of sophomore year, and for the entire summer between sophomore and junior year. There was at least one other intern his age there at the same time.