It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main arguments in this thread are ones I have made before: I wish colleges rewarded the kids who make contributions to their high school community through long-standing activities, whatever that looks like (varsity athlete, marching band, lead in the, play yearbook editor etc) because those roles really help the community. Like it or not, a high school benefits when they have a great team, marching band, or a play worth seeing. And, being the lead, varsity captain or newspaper editor is significant time and provides kids with a lot of skills (running for office, extra training, meeting consistent deadlines, leading a group). Also, say the team makes the state tournament: a playoff run increases season length, requires skill, and a level of dedication that a random JV kid never has to make. That feels more significant to me than the kid who started up a “pointy” club to deliver period products to Africa a few times a year or list a hobby on their activities list. The kids who do the school clubs are generally also vetted through a selection process and probably have decent social skills. I am also very much for service work in a kid’s home community (if a kid is going to the local homeless shelter every day after school in lieu of practice that is great too).

I also think a kid who manages to take electives rather than study halls should get a bump yet colleges don’t seem to care. My kids have always needed the study halls should but the kids who do studio art in all their free periods manage a lot more, imo, because they have to take their homework home.

THEY DO.

But you still have to present a great academic profile. Show that you have the right priorities. Can buckle down and be a good student while also being involved. This isn't rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports are not more important than other extracurriculars like music. And those go all year, not just a season. [/quote

And my kid did both sports and music/arts. If you’re not a recruit, it means nothing more than an extracurricular. Get ready.

Disagree. Not a huge edge but all things being equal, an average varsity athlete will be taken ahead of an average chess club kid or potted plant #3 in the school play.

The point is to be engaged with your extra curricular. Are you just a drone on that team (Potted lineman #3) with nothing interesting to say about it?
Do you organize chess matches, write about them, or teach chess to children?
What is your position in theater? Stage manager, set designer? How did your passion for theater help you grow as a person as you took on more responsibility?

Colleges want interesting people who are engaged with life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the other thread about cuts, everyone mentioned how you many kids on travel teams since 8 don’t pass freshman tryouts in high school. Even if your kid is lucky enough to make varsity, it doesn’t matter much for admissions. It’s just crazy when it’s so hard to make the high school team

This can't be real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main arguments in this thread are ones I have made before: I wish colleges rewarded the kids who make contributions to their high school community through long-standing activities, whatever that looks like (varsity athlete, marching band, lead in the, play yearbook editor etc) because those roles really help the community. Like it or not, a high school benefits when they have a great team, marching band, or a play worth seeing. And, being the lead, varsity captain or newspaper editor is significant time and provides kids with a lot of skills (running for office, extra training, meeting consistent deadlines, leading a group). Also, say the team makes the state tournament: a playoff run increases season length, requires skill, and a level of dedication that a random JV kid never has to make. That feels more significant to me than the kid who started up a “pointy” club to deliver period products to Africa a few times a year or list a hobby on their activities list. The kids who do the school clubs are generally also vetted through a selection process and probably have decent social skills. I am also very much for service work in a kid’s home community (if a kid is going to the local homeless shelter every day after school in lieu of practice that is great too).

I also think a kid who manages to take electives rather than study halls should get a bump yet colleges don’t seem to care. My kids have always needed the study halls should but the kids who do studio art in all their free periods manage a lot more, imo, because they have to take their homework home.

THEY DO.

But you still have to present a great academic profile. Show that you have the right priorities. Can buckle down and be a good student while also being involved. This isn't rocket science.

+1 you can’t sacrifice grades for sports.

We had an “academics first” policy in our house. We didn’t miss school for club sports and were asked to do so a lot. Grades had to be kept up. My kids excelled in sports (recruited low level sports schools), but had the grades and scores to be admitted unhooked to an Ivy. It shows time management and dedication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is frustrating when the time commitment is enormous. I would hope that schools would give some "credit" to a kid who plays a varsity sport and manages to do well academically because that type of work ethic will get them far in life, even if it may not help with college admissions.

It does help with college admissions. Who says it doesn't?

Ignore the ignorant posters here. They know nothing. Their kids are nerds so they think sports are pointless. They know nothing.

Nerds are the ones who are going to actually make scientific and medical breakthroughs. Your kids sound like they’ll just be PE leeches on the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sports are not more important than other extracurriculars like music. And those go all year, not just a season.

THIS 100%

My kid spends 10 hrs/week minimum on music, and layers on another 12 hrs/week during musical season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main arguments in this thread are ones I have made before: I wish colleges rewarded the kids who make contributions to their high school community through long-standing activities, whatever that looks like (varsity athlete, marching band, lead in the, play yearbook editor etc) because those roles really help the community. Like it or not, a high school benefits when they have a great team, marching band, or a play worth seeing. And, being the lead, varsity captain or newspaper editor is significant time and provides kids with a lot of skills (running for office, extra training, meeting consistent deadlines, leading a group). Also, say the team makes the state tournament: a playoff run increases season length, requires skill, and a level of dedication that a random JV kid never has to make. That feels more significant to me than the kid who started up a “pointy” club to deliver period products to Africa a few times a year or list a hobby on their activities list. The kids who do the school clubs are generally also vetted through a selection process and probably have decent social skills. I am also very much for service work in a kid’s home community (if a kid is going to the local homeless shelter every day after school in lieu of practice that is great too).

I also think a kid who manages to take electives rather than study halls should get a bump yet colleges don’t seem to care. My kids have always needed the study halls should but the kids who do studio art in all their free periods manage a lot more, imo, because they have to take their homework home.

THEY DO.

But you still have to present a great academic profile. Show that you have the right priorities. Can buckle down and be a good student while also being involved. This isn't rocket science.

+1 you can’t sacrifice grades for sports.

We had an “academics first” policy in our house. We didn’t miss school for club sports and were asked to do so a lot. Grades had to be kept up. My kids excelled in sports (recruited low level sports schools), but had the grades and scores to be admitted unhooked to an Ivy. It shows time management and dedication.

And what happens if your kids doesn’t give their full effort for the sport to the point where they fail tryouts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the other thread about cuts, everyone mentioned how you many kids on travel teams since 8 don’t pass freshman tryouts in high school. Even if your kid is lucky enough to make varsity, it doesn’t matter much for admissions. It’s just crazy when it’s so hard to make the high school team

This can't be real.

Read this: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1301328.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even more so for spring sports when your DC doesn’t have time to study for AP exams.

AP exams are for chumps.

And it is a lot easier to get good grades if all you do is study. That's why schools like kids with other interests.

Some schools force students to take the AP exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The main arguments in this thread are ones I have made before: I wish colleges rewarded the kids who make contributions to their high school community through long-standing activities, whatever that looks like (varsity athlete, marching band, lead in the, play yearbook editor etc) because those roles really help the community. Like it or not, a high school benefits when they have a great team, marching band, or a play worth seeing. And, being the lead, varsity captain or newspaper editor is significant time and provides kids with a lot of skills (running for office, extra training, meeting consistent deadlines, leading a group). Also, say the team makes the state tournament: a playoff run increases season length, requires skill, and a level of dedication that a random JV kid never has to make. That feels more significant to me than the kid who started up a “pointy” club to deliver period products to Africa a few times a year or list a hobby on their activities list. The kids who do the school clubs are generally also vetted through a selection process and probably have decent social skills. I am also very much for service work in a kid’s home community (if a kid is going to the local homeless shelter every day after school in lieu of practice that is great too).

I also think a kid who manages to take electives rather than study halls should get a bump yet colleges don’t seem to care. My kids have always needed the study halls should but the kids who do studio art in all their free periods manage a lot more, imo, because they have to take their homework home.

THEY DO.

But you still have to present a great academic profile. Show that you have the right priorities. Can buckle down and be a good student while also being involved. This isn't rocket science.

+1 you can’t sacrifice grades for sports.

We had an “academics first” policy in our house. We didn’t miss school for club sports and were asked to do so a lot. Grades had to be kept up. My kids excelled in sports (recruited low level sports schools), but had the grades and scores to be admitted unhooked to an Ivy. It shows time management and dedication.

And what happens if your kids doesn’t give their full effort for the sport to the point where they fail tryouts?

They find another activity that is fun to do. They should know that the #1 priority is school. Then comes activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus the time commitment is huge— playing multiple sports well and earning top grades is a much bigger accomplishment than people credit it— many varsity athletes get home late in the evening and then stay up quite late getting school stuff done. I think athletic activity is a good indicator of initiative and time management because it’s not just a matter of fun and games. It’s a big commitment.

Agree. My oldest spent six nights a week at practice or games. They probably received zero credit for this when it came to college.

Instead, I guess they should have cured cancer or started a nonprofit to rehome cats.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say it doesn't matter at all. It's seen as a worthwhile commitment like any club. Your student can show leadership, like being named/voted captain, volunteering as a youth coach or referee, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fencing is popular among children of helicopter parents - too bad they ruined a good thing.

+1, my kid just likes fencing. We're not trying to make it an admissions thing. But the whole vibe is different from when I fenced (club not varsity) and it's hard to find a friendly club.

I wish sports actually didn't matter for admission, so some of these people would chill.

I think this happened with a lot of lesser-known sports--they used to be extremely chill 20 years ago but have now been taken over by helicopter parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say it doesn't matter at all. It's seen as a worthwhile commitment like any club. Your student can show leadership, like being named/voted captain, volunteering as a youth coach or referee, etc.

Right. it's not necessarily more important that other activities on its own, but it can be used to demonstate character traits. Also, this isn't just for HS sports, but some kids have been involved for many years which shows commitment. My DC was in a sport for a decade and made it to nationals. They spent 20 hours a week on the sport for years, while also maintaining top grades and taking the same AP classes everyone applying to the same schools were taking. It wasn't an automatic admission activity, but it was a critical part of a larger picture.

[Anonymous]

PP here who said they matter. My kid played travel soccer and JV/V soccer all 4 years of HS. They were a referee and youth coach as well. They were captain of their travel team and their JV team. This was a significant and worthwhile endeavor, both on their applications and beyond. They were an excellent student and are now at a T20 school.