Is it necessary to play a sport to gain admission to a selective college?

[Anonymous]

Not likely to change in the near future. The very top universities (Ivies, Stanford, Duke, etc.) reject about 90% or so of their applicants. They need a way to sort applicants out -- so they pick the "best of the best" in any given category whether it be the sport's star, drama star, musician, whomever. Getting a perfect SAT score and perfect grades is "ho-hum" for the top 10 schools.

[Anonymous]

I think that there are some reasons that sports seem to help, even if the kid is not going to play in college at a d1 level. A relative who is an admissions officer at a top Ivy told me that they find that kids who participate in sports played at a high level over many years seem to have developed very good organizational skills (to fit in homework with all those practices etc), independence and leadership. A recent study carried out by Teach for America actually found one of the very best predictors for success in that program was participation in athletics in high school or college at a serious level! Again, confidence and leadership. Music, drama or any other activity participated in at a very high level clearly will develop some of the same characteristics, but being in the school chorus or in one drama production once a year may not have quite the same impact on time management and leadership that sports seems to.

[Anonymous]

I hadn't heard of that Teach for America study about the Teach for America study, but I know that Wall Street really loves athletes for the same reasons you cited. Very interesting.