Mentioning potentially expensive extra-curriculars - do or don't?
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Anonymous
NP. I think the three posters so far talking about equestrian kids missed that the OP's kids simply take riding lessons and are not competitive riders. Just clarifying that. Someone upthread reacted as if the OP's kids were competitive riders and that's not the case. OP, you got some good advice above. If it's something they can work into an essay because they have something meaningful to say about its impact on their lives--great. Use it. They don't necessarily have to list it as an EC. |
Anonymous
I think the reaction you are getting form the equestrian parents is to the post that said that college specialists say never write about riding or sailing, not to the OP's situation in which riding is a fun hobby not a competitive sport. |
Anonymous
| For some schools with equestrian programs, it might be a positive in terms of likelihood of yielding. Not my area but maybe like Holyoke and Skidmore. |
Anonymous
| Oh, please. Rich people are not discriminated against. All the top schools are filled with filthy rich kids. |
Anonymous
yes they are discriminated against. Horseback riding, even competitive, screams if white privilege, which is why the counselors are saying don’t mention it. I don’t agree with this but it’s true. |
Anonymous
When the college looks at our zip code, they know my kid is white (or potentially Asian). I'm not proud of that, but it's true. Add on that my kid goes to private school and we are not applying for financial aid and it's pretty clear. They don't really need the riding to know that, tbh. I'd be a lot richer if my kid did not ride. 
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Anonymous
| I suspect they want some full pay kids. They can't give everyone financial aid. |
Anonymous
DP. Don't listen to the PP. My kid is also an equestrian. While she didn't write about riding in her essays, she most definitely included all the hours she spends riding and doing related tasks - barn chores, lessons, grooming, competitions, etc. It's a huge part of her life. |
Anonymous
DP. My white kid has done competitive equestrian events for over a decade. She got into some fabulous schools. If a counselor had given her that advice, we would have ignored it. |
Anonymous
| I was the person who said my kid would be screwed. Appreciate the good stories. It really is her most significant thing. Because if riding, she doesn’t really have time for school sports and lots of clubs. I guess she is a bit one dimensional but I think kids with deep interests can seem that way. |
Anonymous
| Your zip code reveals everything anyway. They know you’re wealthy. Whether you spend it on competitive riding, skiing, or whatever for your kid doesn’t matter. My DD was an equestrian, it was her primary sport, she highlighted it in her app. She got into a bunch of good schools. |
Anonymous
I will say this, as a PP with an equestrian DD, have her at least get involved in some school activities too. Mine played on the schools tennis team and yeah that made for a tough balancing act for a few months but added the team and leadership dimension that her riding did not. She still competed at a high level and also really enjoyed being with a group of girls playing for her high school. She didn’t write about tennis in her essays either but did list it and her awards. Definitely rounded out her application. |
Anonymous
They have to make stuff up, so the parents don’t realize they are unnecessary. |
Anonymous
Don’t give it a thought. And your kid will likely apply to schools where this EC is an option, so just ignore that person. |
Anonymous
All of your over the top biases are showing. Colleges know many students are wealthy. They usually SEE your income and assets. Just stop. |