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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, my junior is similar to yours. A solid student, good grades in rigorous classes, and plays soccer (a LOT). And that’s it. No jobs, no clubs, no volunteering. We’ve discussed how this will limit DC’s college options. And it may not really sink in until DC has some rejections in hand, but it’s been their decision. I can’t make this child be like their sibling who played sports and got great grades but also worked, volunteered and started a club and is now at a T50 college. I’m parenting the child I have, with accordant expectations about college prospects. And neither of us is pointing fingers or looking for scapegoats among their peers. [/quote]

Actually you can.  IF a kid is able to play sports (like the OP), then they are capable of volunteering or getting a job or joining a club.  Much like when our kids were younger, we "required" them to be in 2 activities: 1 with an active focus (gymnastics, soccer, baseball, basketball, dance, karate, etc) and 1 with an art/music focus. We offered choices and let them pick, only rule was they had to stick with it for the time we signed up for (fall soccer season or a semester of piano classes).  We let them switch and try new things out.  We did this because we feel staying active and healthy is important and so is nurturing the arts/music side of the brain.  But we let the kids pick what they wanted to do.

In MS/HS we encouraged them to volunteer and pick clubs/school activities.  One went onto get their Blackbelt, one danced competitively for 8 years, both volunteered in different ways.  One had a job the other was in multiple clubs at school.  We let them pick what to do but we didn't want them just sitting at home all the time---we also knew that you need ECs for colleges, and believe in giving back to our community (we volunteer as well) so encouraged that.

Basically, being an involved citizen was part of how we raised our kids, if you start early they just learn to do it and want to (most of the time---they are teens so it's not always)[/quote]

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