if the id does anything for four years it is good, doing things 2 years then stopping and picking up something for 2 doesn't.

Cross country has become so watered down and unless you are a top tier runner they schools all know the kids use that as a sport for their applications.

We the parents need to chill. Success comes in many forms - not just attending a top 20 college!!!

I would make sure he's getting an adequate amount of exercise each day if he is dropping sports. Tutoring and driving are both pretty sedentary, so he might lose his fitness level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A top college advisor told our DD to drop sports since she wasn't recruitment-level, and instead focus on other activities where she could gain interesting leadership experience, such as getting involved in local government, nonprofits, etc. Everybody does sports. It doesn't distinguish your kid at all.

This mentality is so so so sad to me. If the kid doesn't like the sport that much and would rather to something else, ok, that's one thing. But wow...the idea of a kid dropping something they enjoy just because it doesn't "distinguish" them for college admissions purposes is so fucked up.

Chill out. People hire a college advisor to get advice on the best way to get into a top college. Not all the advice needs to be taken nor I assume, does the counselor expect someone to take all the advice he or she gives. If a kid isn't very good at a sport, but loves it anyways it could make perfect sense for him to stick with it, but it is at least nice to have the knowledge that it might not be the most strategic method for college admissions when making the decision.

OP, my son really scaled back on athletics junior and senior year because he wanted to focus on academics and his ecs.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like OP's son traded one after-school activity for another - I don't see what the problem is. I think having the qualifications to tutor other kids would be a good selling point in the applications process.

My kid NEVER played sports - I did not realize that would put him out of the running for a decent college or a merit scholarship.

My kids never played sports either, and both got into excellent colleges. Sports are just another activity. Not mandatory, by a long shot.

It sounds like OP's son traded one after-school activity for another - I don't see what the problem is. I think having the qualifications to tutor other kids would be a good selling point in the applications process.

My kid NEVER played sports - I did not realize that would put him out of the running for a decent college or a merit scholarship.

It's just as sad as parents who think their child must play a sport to get into college. That's absurd.

Anonymous wrote:A top college advisor told our DD to drop sports since she wasn't recruitment-level, and instead focus on other activities where she could gain interesting leadership experience, such as getting involved in local government, nonprofits, etc. Everybody does sports. It doesn't distinguish your kid at all.

This mentality is so so so sad to me. If the kid doesn't like the sport that much and would rather to something else, ok, that's one thing. But wow...the idea of a kid dropping something they enjoy just because it doesn't "distinguish" them for college admissions purposes is so fucked up.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just to clarify, my son does not watch or care for his siblings once he drops them off at home. He wanted to drive himself to school and he takes my car.

He gets an allowance but makes very good spending money/savings tutoring other kids.

My son is the one who decided to quit sports this year starting with cross country.

I am truly sorry I posted.

First, there is absolutely nothing wrong with an older child being responsible for helping with younger siblings, especially when the older child has the privilege of driving. We bought our kids used cars and paid the insurance with the understanding that they would help when we needed a driver. It's called being a part of a family. The poster that took issue with your son driving siblings is clearly not the type of person you want parenting advice from. Ignore.

On dcum, you have to wade through a lot of ignorance to find the good stuff. As pretty much everyone else has said, dropping sports won't be a problem. Your son sounds like a really bright, responsible kid. Good job!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just to clarify, my son does not watch or care for his siblings once he drops them off at home. He wanted to drive himself to school and he takes my car.

He gets an allowance but makes very good spending money/savings tutoring other kids.

My son is the one who decided to quit sports this year starting with cross country.

I am truly sorry I posted.

aas far as I know, the only thing the good colleges abhor is "dead time" on your schedule esp. junior year. Tutoring does seem a useful use of his time, so I don't think this decision hurts much - if it an equally big commitment of time as the sport was.

To the pp who said participation in sports doesn't distinguish someone, I don't think that's right. The benefits of esp. team sports is well known, but also you're forced to manage your time more efficiently, and I think that is looked upon favorably by the admissions people.

Never post here, OP. These are the Richie Rich parents who cannot possibly imagine having a kid who WANTS to work rather than play a private school sport. I am surprised no one suggested you hire someone to drive the younger kids to school.

OP here. Just to clarify, my son does not watch or care for his siblings once he drops them off at home. He wanted to drive himself to school and he takes my car.

He gets an allowance but makes very good spending money/savings tutoring other kids.

My son is the one who decided to quit sports this year starting with cross country.

I am truly sorry I posted.