
I have a son who is great at all sports (he's a straight A student as well). He's not even in high school yet, but he has to start narrowing down his sports as the work load increases. Without a big bucket of judgment, I seriously want to know if there is one sport over another that will distinguish a top student from a top school from all the other top students from top schools. |
What is your goal here? To have him accepted as a varsity athlete? With a scholarship? Or is this just a line on the application. And at what kind of school? Ivy, small private, large Div I school?
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Definitely not athletic scholarship. Top universities for academics, in which they may have some interest in sports? My son is great at baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and basketball, and he also could play competitively (high school competitively I mean) in tennis and wrestling. That's just what he knows now (and he excels in all of them). But given that he is just a great athlete no matter what the sport, I am wondering if there is any sport that will look better on a college application (all of this depending on his interest, of course). |
Which does he enjoy the most? |
To be honest, he likes everything. If I were to say where is he most gifted, it is probably in baseball and soccer. But he loves sports where he is not the star too, and with enough time I know he would excel in any sport (he already does, but I mean distinguish himself at a competitive level). He himself is always asking his dad, "Which should I do?". If I knew that one had some marginal value later on for admissions to college, I might think that would be something to include in the array, until at least he decided otherwise. |
Honestly, I'd see if you could get him interested in crew -- all of the other sports you mention can be found at every school, so none are better than another in terms of standing out. But crew, that is a sport that not many preps and HSs have but a lot of top schools have top teams. That is assuming your son will be over 5' 9" when he graduates. |
I'll take you at your word that DS really is awesome at all of the above. Therefore I would answer baseball, but not pitching if you are hoping for longevity in the sport.
Baseball is appealing to the smaller elite schools and also Div I, which will give him options down the road. |
Curling. It's all the rage now. |
How old is your son? Mine had to narrow these things down in upper elementary school. How is he playing baseball which is the same season as lacrosse? Youth sports wrestling is the same season as basketball so if he does travel bball or aau this is not possible. Sounds like you really want to know what to focus on for him and college for a DS who is still in the ACTIVITY stage. |
College Admissions Officer-Wanking.
all the rage. |
Sorry, I didn't mean he plays them all now. He HAS played them all. Yes, at this point he has to choose by season, but he could drift back into them (and has). He is choosing year to year, but obviously the longer you play, the more you're going to develop skills. |
Sorry to disappoint OP, but if your kid isn't good enough to be recruited -- then it doesn't matter what sport he does...it just counts as an activity on his application. To get an admissions boost...he needs to be recruitment material. That means he has to be great enough at one sport to be recruited...so any are fine...but he needs to specialize... |
...And, I meant to add to my above post -- mine was recruited for crew...had to specialize from middle school on. |
Okay, thanks. No need to worry then! I can't see him taking to crew, I must say (the early morning hours). |
I'm not saying it has to be crew...I'm just saying the student has to be great enough at whichever sport to be recruitment material. You can check out college rosters online to look at the necessary times/awards needed to make a respective team. Most kids are All-State or All Met...have won many awards...have great character...great grades...great test scores...all around package. |