Two HS Sports vs One HS Sport

[Anonymous]

What are opinions on chance of any college admission bump for playing 2 Varsity Sports versus 1 Varsity Sport. Would this make any difference in the eyes of college admission departments?

DS is considering pursuing a new activity or playing an additional sport. He has played several sports at a reasonable level over the years so on the surface playing a second HS sport could be a better fit for him. Clearly college admissions should not be a primary reason to pursue either but curious what perspectives are on this.

Is there any jock benefit for those who present as more athletic or is it a so what.

[Anonymous]

I think it's just another EC and if your son should do what he's passionate about. If he wants to play both sports, then he should. My DC is a two sport varsity athlete and will no way be recruited. It's just something they like to do and are committed to.

[Anonymous]

My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a 3 sport athlete and will not use his recruiting bump (schools interested in him are not a good academic fit). Strategically, probably would have been better to pursue a service activity or something more major related, quite honestly.

But he loves to play sports, so that is what he did. May not be the best admissions move but made him happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a 3 sport athlete and will not use his recruiting bump (schools interested in him are not a good academic fit). Strategically, probably would have been better to pursue a service activity or something more major related, quite honestly.

But he loves to play sports, so that is what he did. May not be the best admissions move but made him happy.

I don't know - I think it's better to be true to yourself. Presumably they did some service - as every school seems to require that.

[Anonymous]

He should do what motivate him. I know a guy who switched from baseball to throwing the javelin in 11th grade and wound up throwing well enough to be recruited by Dartmouth. Which, as you say, shouldn't be the motivation, but it does emphasize that doing what you love is always best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

Agree. Be true to himself and go somewhere that wants him for who he is--that's where he'll do best (which, in turn, matters far more than the name of the institution).

[Anonymous]

OP, it means nothing if he's not being recruited. Absolutely nothing. It's no different than another kid who is in the school band AND babysits or volunteers. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Sports are great, both my kids play them in high school. But they are enormously time consuming and make it very difficult to do other things because the coach pretty much owns your kid during the season. So I’m in favor of only doing a sport if the kid is REALLY into it and otherwise pursuing other things. In terms of college applications, if kid isn’t being recruited, there’s certainly no disadvantage kid expanding horizons and interests beyond school athletics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

+1
but the thing is if your student desires to make themselves stand out in their applications, sports as an EC is not at all a good way to do so (again, unless you are a recruited athlete). Thousands upon thousands play varsity sports.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

+1
but the thing is if your student desires to make themselves stand out in their applications, sports as an EC is not at all a good way to do so (again, unless you are a recruited athlete). Thousands upon thousands play varsity sports.

Sure, and what the rest of us are pointing out is that making choices purely based on whether it will be unique on a college application is not healthy. There's nothing bad about having two varsity sports as your EC's if you are passionate about them and take opportunities to step up as a leader. As others have noted, a more meaningful trade-off in this decision is whether the sport takes too much time away from competing interests....or from studying. Life is always about choices. Teaching a kid to make choices purely based on how unique they will look on a college application is a soul-less message.

[Anonymous]

PP above again - there's always summers to do other interests and a third season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

+1
but the thing is if your student desires to make themselves stand out in their applications, sports as an EC is not at all a good way to do so (again, unless you are a recruited athlete). Thousands upon thousands play varsity sports.

Sure, and what the rest of us are pointing out is that making choices purely based on whether it will be unique on a college application is not healthy. There's nothing bad about having two varsity sports as your EC's if you are passionate about them and take opportunities to step up as a leader. As others have noted, a more meaningful trade-off in this decision is whether the sport takes too much time away from competing interests....or from studying. Life is always about choices. Teaching a kid to make choices purely based on how unique they will look on a college application is a soul-less message.

Agree completely. Actions taken solely based on the college application should never be done. But I read over and over on these threads people who seem to put value on their child's participation in a varsity sport as being an exceptional EC when it is exactly the opposite: extremely common. If your child loves their sport by all means support them in every way possible. They should absolutely play. But do not go into the college application process believing that their sport as an EC will move the needle in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding unless you are recruited, sports are viewed as any other EC - judged for commitment over time, leadership etc.

So, if my kid, I would advise him to do what he wants to do the most. If playing more sports makes him happy, do that. Or if diversifying activities sounds more appealing, go that route.

+1
but the thing is if your student desires to make themselves stand out in their applications, sports as an EC is not at all a good way to do so (again, unless you are a recruited athlete). Thousands upon thousands play varsity sports.

Sure, and what the rest of us are pointing out is that making choices purely based on whether it will be unique on a college application is not healthy. There's nothing bad about having two varsity sports as your EC's if you are passionate about them and take opportunities to step up as a leader. As others have noted, a more meaningful trade-off in this decision is whether the sport takes too much time away from competing interests....or from studying. Life is always about choices. Teaching a kid to make choices purely based on how unique they will look on a college application is a soul-less message.

Agree completely. Actions taken solely based on the college application should never be done. But I read over and over on these threads people who seem to put value on their child's participation in a varsity sport as being an exceptional EC when it is exactly the opposite: extremely common. If your child loves their sport by all means support them in every way possible. They should absolutely play. But do not go into the college application process believing that their sport as an EC will move the needle in any way.

Agreed - I do think people get too caught up in thinking being a varsity athlete is a hook when it isn't. And many find that even if it could be a hook for their child, they aren't willing to attend the schools that would want to recruit their child.

But just like any other EC, participation in varsity sports provides opportunities for growth and it shows the university how the applicant may engage in their school community. No matter what your kids do, they should participate in activities they are passionate about and they should engage in those activities in meaningful ways.