Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 07:01     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
I agree and it’s why I get annoyed when parents of recruited athletes on here get so bent out of shape when others complain about athletic recruitment. They always argue “but sports is a big time commitment and it teaches leadership, etc…” why does that only apply to recruited athletes and not other kids who play on HS teams but aren’t good enough (or rich enough or have parents with enough free time) to be recruited?
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 06:22     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Oh these very insecure parents! Universities have allocated budgets. That means they spend money on certain things and need bodies to fill that cost center. This can be from Tuba playing to a field hockey player. Being a perfect student on paper is yawn. That is why athletes, musicians, debate team members and others who contribute to a university get some love in the admissions process. Worst yet and probably what makes you wet your pants is when they academically have what your book-worm has and can still do more.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 06:02     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
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.


True, I can speak from personal experience here. My daughter has been a 4-year Varsity athlete (Marching Band) and there has been an enormous time commitment on her part.

I do hope the universities understand this, and appreciate it, and really take it into consideration as we are now applying to colleges at the moment.


LOL
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 06:00     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Exactly. Plus most sports involve being part of a group. They involve learning how to win and lose. Very important life skills that go far beyond taking Calculus as a sophomore or advanced physics or whatever else others think is impressive. Unfortunately, so many people don't get this. Leave your bubble.

No this is not the lesson to be learned. Academic excellence matters to colleges, period. Sports are an extracurricular- you choose to do something after school that takes up time. But, many students choose various extracurricular activities that take up a lot of time. It’s not unique to sports. Sports shouldn’t be a battle against education, and I partially agree that we should maybe give more credit where it’s due, but there’s are many students who choose not to do sports and have amazing extracurricular activities that help others and involves hard work.


You do realize that you’re supposed to stop talking after dropping the bolded, don’t you?
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 05:57     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
I fare sorts hpuld be for fun and also for health. Losing sight of that makes you striver/grinder for sports. Not pleasant and not useful if you don’t have pro/Olympic potential.
My kid has been on a spring varsity sports team in HS every year. Not a star player but is a starter and plays for fun. Loves it in fact. Not sure what colleges will think of it but don’t care because the sport has been instrumental in physical and mental health. No matter what college/job you land, you can’t succeed in life without physical and mental health

Our system of achievement and productivity doesn’t care about your health and if you can’t do the job, you’re very easily replaced.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 05:36     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Grades come first and test scores. If the sports get in the way of that, there’s a problem. If you’re spending money on sports that should be saved for tuition, there’s a problem.

Schools are looking for ECs where you develop leadership skills. That can include sports. But there needs to be more than just the sport.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 05:07     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What in the world? Encourage your kid to play sports for exercise and fun, not college admissions. Don’t make everything a grind for your kid.


You can’t just play sports for fun given how hard it is to make the high school teams here

My kid did and he’s in college now.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 04:05     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
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.


True, I can speak from personal experience here. My daughter has been a 4-year Varsity athlete (Marching Band) and there has been an enormous time commitment on her part.

I do hope the universities understand this, and appreciate it, and really take it into consideration as we are now applying to colleges at the moment.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 03:14     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Exactly. Plus most sports involve being part of a group. They involve learning how to win and lose. Very important life skills that go far beyond taking Calculus as a sophomore or advanced physics or whatever else others think is impressive. Unfortunately, so many people don't get this. Leave your bubble.

No this is not the lesson to be learned. Academic excellence matters to colleges, period. Sports are an extracurricular- you choose to do something after school that takes up time. But, many students choose various extracurricular activities that take up a lot of time. It’s not unique to sports. Sports shouldn’t be a battle against education, and I partially agree that we should maybe give more credit where it’s due, but there’s are many students who choose not to do sports and have amazing extracurricular activities that help others and involves hard work.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 02:37     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
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.


Chasing a ball like a golden retriever is for chumps. That's why schools like kids with high IQ
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 02:35     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
It's not frustrating how kids can't get drafted into the NBA if they take a lot of AP classes, considering how hard AP classes are.
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 02:13     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Anonymous wrote:What in the world? Encourage your kid to play sports for exercise and fun, not college admissions. Don’t make everything a grind for your kid.


You can’t just play sports for fun given how hard it is to make the high school teams here
Anonymous
Post 12/03/2025 02:03     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
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.


My DS got admitted to 2 Top 30 schools, 4 Top 50 ones and waitlisted at another Top 50 with his ECs being primarily sports at a public HS. And he wasn’t all league or team captain.

I can’t speak for Top 20s, others say they want pointy kids and perhaps they do, but one shouldn’t equate “college admissions” with Top 20s unless that is your intention.

Even here, sports may help at schools like Rice and Carnegie Mellon (schools in or around the Top 20) known for valuing collaboration.
Anonymous
Post 12/02/2025 23:49     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
Lots of things about the college admissions process are frustrating.
Anonymous
Post 12/02/2025 23:39     Subject: It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here
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.