A reality check on "strong extracurriculars"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Because they are going to compete for their college. That’s the definition of an athletic recruit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Yes, because they are nationally ranked. No one is arguing that... we're talking about being captain of your private school football team that has never won a game all season.

Right. That’s almost irrelevant. Nice filler EC. Maybe #9 in list?

I think better to leave it off the list...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Because they are going to compete for their college. That’s the definition of an athletic recruit.

But if the teams are club? Not recruited.

And yes I imagine they’ll still compete? Club or individual. And will do so individually on the “circuit” and still bring notoriety to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Two ultra expensive sports, do the math.

Stanford loves both of these sports - and equestrian is not recruited (though club team is ranked #1).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Two ultra expensive sports, do the math.

Stanford loves both of these sports - and equestrian is not recruited (though club team is ranked #1).

Not sure about that. Now for a fact that sailing is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Two ultra expensive sports, do the math.

Stanford loves both of these sports - and equestrian is not recruited (though club team is ranked #1).

Not sure about that. Now for a fact that sailing is.

Know for a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is elite level athlete? You are either recruitable, or not recruitable.

Sometimes sailing, water polo, and equestrian is not a Div 1 recruit but bc of club teams they are quite valuable to a school if individual natl champs

Water polo and equestrian are NCAA sports.

Not at every school.

At most top private schools (other than Stanford, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth) equestrian is a (competitive) club sport. Some schools are hoping to convert it to NCAA eventually.
Yet some private schools in T25 are actively looking for nationally ranked equestrians.

The nationally ranked part is what I have seen missing in the back and forth about sports and team captains. People are correct when they say that being the captain on a random HS team isn't a real strong EC. But they are incorrect in believing that being the captain and a player on a nationally ranked team isn't a strong EC, it's an outstanding EC. It's the level of excellence that matters. Virtually every kid on a nationally ranked top 20 basketball team is recruitable. Choosing not to play doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

Nationally ranked sailors/equestrians at our nonDMV private have shockingly good results

Two ultra expensive sports, do the math.

Stanford loves both of these sports - and equestrian is not recruited (though club team is ranked #1).

Not sure about that. Now for a fact that sailing is.

Know for a fact.

And I know equestrian is not. Personally.

[Anonymous]

Stanford also likes Olympians in non NCAA sports. Ivies do as well.

But we are talking about ordinary high school kids playing NCAA recruitable sports in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stanford also likes Olympians in non NCAA sports. Ivies do as well.

But we are talking about ordinary high school kids playing NCAA recruitable sports in high school.

Doesn’t move the needle but fine to show team leadership/community/grit esp if pushing a losing team.

I would personally put at bottom of activity list. One of my kids did. Of course DC had other things to align with major. Admitted to top choice T20 in RD. But it’s not going to make an application. But don’t think anyone here is naive enough to think that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that sports captain doesn't seem to do anything even if it's a main sport at a name brand school (say a place like sidwell) that only has 2 captains per team.

I think it depends. Captain as a senior, maybe not that remarkable. But say someone was on Varsity team all 4 yrs and Captain of the team 3 of those year- that does speak highly of their character and how they are perceived by others. Maybe it isn’t winning Regeneron talent search, but colleges don’t want to fill every spot with an academic robot (just some of them).

Check the scoring rubrics. Think this is considered a lower tier EC.
You can score your kids ECs to see where they fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stanford also likes Olympians in non NCAA sports. Ivies do as well.

But we are talking about ordinary high school kids playing NCAA recruitable sports in high school.

Doesn’t move the needle but fine to show team leadership/community/grit esp if pushing a losing team.

I would personally put at bottom of activity list. One of my kids did. Of course DC had other things to align with major. Admitted to top choice T20 in RD. But it’s not going to make an application. But don’t think anyone here is naive enough to think that here.

Correct. These are fine background/context activities. If you have 10 activities listed, captain / player usually made it to #9 or #10. Nice to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that sports captain doesn't seem to do anything even if it's a main sport at a name brand school (say a place like sidwell) that only has 2 captains per team.

I think it depends. Captain as a senior, maybe not that remarkable. But say someone was on Varsity team all 4 yrs and Captain of the team 3 of those year- that does speak highly of their character and how they are perceived by others. Maybe it isn’t winning Regeneron talent search, but colleges don’t want to fill every spot with an academic robot (just some of them).

Check the scoring rubrics. Think this is considered a lower tier EC.
You can score your kids ECs to see where they fall.

Where does one find scoring rubrics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that sports captain doesn't seem to do anything even if it's a main sport at a name brand school (say a place like sidwell) that only has 2 captains per team.

I think it depends. Captain as a senior, maybe not that remarkable. But say someone was on Varsity team all 4 yrs and Captain of the team 3 of those year- that does speak highly of their character and how they are perceived by others. Maybe it isn’t winning Regeneron talent search, but colleges don’t want to fill every spot with an academic robot (just some of them).

Check the scoring rubrics. Think this is considered a lower tier EC.
You can score your kids ECs to see where they fall.

Where does one find scoring rubrics?

Someone posted a bunch on here last cycle. I used for my own kid.

Maybe google? Reddit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that sports captain doesn't seem to do anything even if it's a main sport at a name brand school (say a place like sidwell) that only has 2 captains per team.

I think it depends. Captain as a senior, maybe not that remarkable. But say someone was on Varsity team all 4 yrs and Captain of the team 3 of those year- that does speak highly of their character and how they are perceived by others. Maybe it isn’t winning Regeneron talent search, but colleges don’t want to fill every spot with an academic robot (just some of them).

Check the scoring rubrics. Think this is considered a lower tier EC.
You can score your kids ECs to see where they fall.

Good point. Member of a state level team at Harvard gets a 2. Recruited gets a 1. That 2 covers the EC rubric so it much stronger than many on here want to admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strong ECs means:
1. school president
2. first chair in audition orchestra/band
3. elite-level athlete
4. multi-year (3+) community service commitment at the same organization
5. multiple awards won at top tournaments/conferences: speech and debater/Model UNer
6. steady job of any kind (McDonald's and the like=bonus)

Strong ECs does NOT mean:
1. president of many clubs
2. started a non-profit
3. did research with a professor
4. participated in any or all of the "strong ECs" above but not with demonstrated commitment (i.e. many years) and/or significant recognition (i.e. varsity athlete but not top individual stats, on student council but not president)

This list is not comprehensive but there is a great deal of misinformation here about what "strong ECs" means.

And you're the admissions director at which college?