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.

Why don't they matter? Your life in sports, challenges faced, how you grew as a person, leadership roles and responsibilities on the team and more should all be a part of that essay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The regional AO at my kid’s school played a sport in college. It’s a top school- he has a lot of sports. They were his main EX. Admitted RD unhooked at a 3% admission rate school.

He obviously had the grades/scores too.

That's a lot of information to know about the admissions officer.

Really? They have a list of names. One google simple name search pulls it up.

Anonymous wrote:I assumed sports would be somewhat helpful as it fills in gaps because otherwise, he wouldn’t have much! but the main reason for my kid was social and health. He’s does 3 seasons of running with just a great group of kids it has been a game changer for his friend circle and confidence. He also has adhd and the running after school really calms his mind so he can focus and it makes him think how to balance things to do and prioritize because of the time commitment
Also, he has an activity that he can do in college at a rec level and it makes me less worried about his assimilation into college. So, while colleges may not care, doing a hard sport for my kid will absolutely benefit him in college and has been amazing for his growth now. Maybe you can see if there are other benefits and not look at activities in such a transactional light.

You and your kid have the right outlook

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

No reason for you to be a jealous jerk just because your kid doesn’t have the coordination and talent to be a marching band athlete at the varsity level.

NP. I wonder what AOs think when they read your daughter's Common App Activities Section and see "Athletics: JV/Varsity" instead of "Music: Instrumental" for Marching Band. I hope they don't spill their coffee.

My daughter did JV sports (never tried out for varsity) in freshman and sophomore year and ended up doing track for the rest of HS. She was involved activities involving her faith and also singing. She played those up in her application and the sports were simply a side thing she mentioned in her activities list. Unless you are getting recruited for your sport, it means absolutely nothing on your application.

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.

Marching band?

I assumed sports would be somewhat helpful as it fills in gaps because otherwise, he wouldn’t have much! but the main reason for my kid was social and health. He’s does 3 seasons of running with just a great group of kids it has been a game changer for his friend circle and confidence. He also has adhd and the running after school really calms his mind so he can focus and it makes him think how to balance things to do and prioritize because of the time commitment
Also, he has an activity that he can do in college at a rec level and it makes me less worried about his assimilation into college. So, while colleges may not care, doing a hard sport for my kid will absolutely benefit him in college and has been amazing for his growth now. Maybe you can see if there are other benefits and not look at activities in such a transactional light.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The regional AO at my kid’s school played a sport in college. It’s a top school- he has a lot of sports. They were his main EX. Admitted RD unhooked at a 3% admission rate school.

He obviously had the grades/scores too.

That's a lot of information to know about the admissions officer.

Anonymous wrote:

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

No reason for you to be a jealous jerk just because your kid doesn’t have the coordination and talent to be a marching band athlete at the varsity level.

Not everything has to be a means to an end, OP. It’s very important for people to embrace things just because they enjoy them. This is the real key to lifelong fulfillment.

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.

So you’re essentially whining that your kid isn’t getting extra admissions credit for a thing they like to do? That’s pretty pathetic.

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.

The regional AO at my kid’s school played a sport in college. It’s a top school- he has a lot of sports. They were his main EX. Admitted RD unhooked at a 3% admission rate school.

He obviously had the grades/scores too.

If the schools that value academics over sports don’t align with your values, you can skip them.