If your kid wants to go to a selective university, do not let them play sports in high school

[Anonymous]

We heard exactly the opposite from someone in college admissions - a kid at TJ with sports talent will have no problem in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the kid the OP is referring wrote crappy essays.

Grade grubbing TJ student who couldn’t cut it and the parent needs something to blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We heard exactly the opposite from someone in college admissions - a kid at TJ with sports talent will have no problem in the admissions process.

This statement doesn’t make any sense. If the kid was a recruited athlete (ie “sports talent”), then everyone agrees that kid is probably high on the list for say MIT.

However, just playing a sport and being captain doesnt mean a kid at TJ has sports talent in the holistic sense…because TJ’s sports teams aren’t all that good for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Mine did two varsity sports. Sucked at both but didn't quit. And made it into a top school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four years ago I heard an AO from UVA say they like students who played sports and still got good grades because that shows they can manage their time.

That is a lie given most UVA students who get in now aren’t really involved in sports

Wrong. Kids on my son’s not very good FCPS varsity team get into UVA every year even though they are not athletic recruits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perfect grades are a dime a dozen at many local highly regarded schools. There will be non athletes with similar resumes rejected by the most selective schools.

X100 and every sport has a captain.

Really, there’s nothing remarkable about this guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that sports for someone who is not recruitable aren’t particularly important for admission. Lots of ESs aren’t particularly important to admissions, doesn’t mean they have no value to kid. I do think kids should do what they love most, sports or otherwise. But my big issue with varsity sports is those coaches OWN the kids’ schedules from pre-season to playoffs and they’re really isn’t much room for a lot of other activities that would give kids a chance to grow and achieve some cool things and show leadership in different ways. So the three season athlete is in a bit of a pickle in my opinion.

I don’t think we know for a fact that sports are “not important” for admissions if you’re not recruited, for all that this is DCUM conventional wisdom.

As for sports making other ECs impossible, ok, your kid will have to make the choice and your kid’s application will reflect your kid’s values, whether they are sports or something else.

[Anonymous]

Encouraged our kids to be involved ins something beyond school. Activities that develop skills and competencies.

One DC loved their sport and ended up a D1 athlete and it has been a great HS and college activity for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Encouraged our kids to be involved ins something beyond school. Activities that develop skills and competencies.

One DC loved their sport and ended up a D1 athlete and it has been a great HS and college activity for DC.

I’m PP above. I should add our DC was accepted at a few of the “top schools” OP named but only two made the real list and only one was a fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four years ago I heard an AO from UVA say they like students who played sports and still got good grades because that shows they can manage their time.

My son managed his time well working PT while going to school. Bonus is that he helped pay for his education.

[Anonymous]

My buddy was a really good HS basketball player but not good enough a basketball scholarship a big team. He got free tuition NYU on merit aid if he on a “handshake” deal agree to play on team all four years.

How do you think IVY league schools get teams if no athletic scholarships?

Do you really think Ryan FitzPatrick who was Harvards starting QB before going pro NFL had the same grades as a non athlete?

[Anonymous]

I do think there is a lesson here than many parents miss. I see parents pouring tons of money, time and energy into their kids sports not realizing that the odds of them playing in college are exceedingly low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four years ago I heard an AO from UVA say they like students who played sports and still got good grades because that shows they can manage their time.

I agree that a non-recruited athlete's college application will show that they can manage their time well. But so can any other applicant with a time consuming EC. The thing is that in this country playing a sport intensely, where it takes up hours every week but where the student athlete will NOT be a recruited college athlete, is not going to make the applicant stand out in any way. So many applicants spend hours a week playing their sport and by doing so they do gain valuable attributes and experiences, but they do not gain anything that will help them stand out. It is just the reality of the process.

Look, my college junior is a college recruited athlete at a T50 school. He had a very strong GPA and significant rigor in his HS course load but if he hadn't been a recruited athlete all the hours he spent on that field would not matter a bit in influencing his college applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:🙄

There’s more to life than sacrificing your kid’s authenticity and interests to try to match the ever-changing whims of admissions committees.

Sure, if your kid doesn’t like sports, don’t force them to play one in an attempt to impress admissions. That’s silly and worthless. Same is true if they’re all-in on their instrument, musical theater, dance, or any other super time-consuming passion.

But if your kid loves sports (or the equivalent) and wants to pursue it in HS but not at a recruited level, there’s plenty of upside for them as a human being: authenticity, grit, leadership, social skills, physical health, mental health/wellness, and more.

All that said, if playing three varsity sports is what keeps our 4.0/1500+/12AP student out of the T-20, that’s fine with us. We’re thrilled to see our kid enjoy and excel at the EC’s they have chosen. It’s been wonderful for their growth, resilience, sense of self, and relationships with their peers, coaches, and teachers, alike.

IMHO that’s more important in the long run than dropping their authentic self in an attempt to make themself marginally more attractive to a school with an already tiny rate of admission. But you do you.

It is not a marginal boost. I don’t think that many parents realize here how much sports actively hurt your chances in admissions because of the time factor. Most college admissions advisors actively tell kids to give up on sports if they aren’t being recruited

This +1
or the non-recruited student athlete continues with their sport knowing that it will not be a boost in any way come college application time
it is the parents that seem the most delusional to me as they really think that playing on a travel team will move the needle in any way when it doesn't

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any other tips for sucking the joy out of childhood?

Exactly