Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 13:08     Subject: Time consuming sport as only extra-curricular?
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for all the suggestions. He’s got great grades with decent rigor (4 APs junior year). First SAT was 1260, hopefully we can bring that up into at least the 1300s with some additional prep for the next go round, but we will see. I’m pretty confident he can play D3, but D1 (which is his dream) is still a question mark (has heard from some D1 coaches but the transfer portal seems to have changed the timeline for recruiting, with D1 coaches looking at high school players later than they did in the past).

I agree that he could have found time for more activities, but he hasn’t been really passionate about anything and I have been loath to force him into it just for college application purposes, especially when he already has very limited downtime. I am going to push him on the volunteering front. Regular gigs are tough because his practices are unpredictable, but hopefully we can figure something out.

I guess I fall more on the side of let him be himself and let the chips fall where they may, which likely means a super-selective school is not realistic unless he is recruited.


He is not near the range to get into the T30ish with those stats without being recruited, which works out well as the T30 and up are the main ones that expect ECs in addition to a 20+ hour sport. Don't force him he will land where he is meant to be, recruited or not. It would be a waste to add ECs that the selective schools want when his stats are not in line with them. Plus he needs to succeed where he goes if he is not going for sports. Aim for a school with pre-test optional score ranges that indicate 1300 would be top-half or better.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:29     Subject: Time consuming sport as only extra-curricular?
My kid had a similar situation. They did have lots of volunteer hours from before high school and then with the team, but mostly just the sport. During the summer, though, they worked at the same camp for 3 years in a row - I think that was helpful.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:28     Subject: Time consuming sport as only extra-curricular?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for all the suggestions. He’s got great grades with decent rigor (4 APs junior year). First SAT was 1260, hopefully we can bring that up into at least the 1300s with some additional prep for the next go round, but we will see. I’m pretty confident he can play D3, but D1 (which is his dream) is still a question mark (has heard from some D1 coaches but the transfer portal seems to have changed the timeline for recruiting, with D1 coaches looking at high school players later than they did in the past).

I agree that he could have found time for more activities, but he hasn’t been really passionate about anything and I have been loath to force him into it just for college application purposes, especially when he already has very limited downtime. I am going to push him on the volunteering front. Regular gigs are tough because his practices are unpredictable, but hopefully we can figure something out.

I guess I fall more on the side of let him be himself and let the chips fall where they may, which likely means a super-selective school is not realistic unless he is recruited.


With those scores (unlikely to go up more than 150-200 points, even with test prep), I'd say the super-selective schools are likely out. I'd focus on test-optional SLACs -- either where he can play his sport D3, or even not and have a great college experience.


35% of Princeton athletes were accepted TO. If he is a top recruit for a sport, it's within the realm of possibility...though the transcript rigor would have to pass muster.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 11:25     Subject: Time consuming sport as only extra-curricular?
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for all the suggestions. He’s got great grades with decent rigor (4 APs junior year). First SAT was 1260, hopefully we can bring that up into at least the 1300s with some additional prep for the next go round, but we will see. I’m pretty confident he can play D3, but D1 (which is his dream) is still a question mark (has heard from some D1 coaches but the transfer portal seems to have changed the timeline for recruiting, with D1 coaches looking at high school players later than they did in the past).

I agree that he could have found time for more activities, but he hasn’t been really passionate about anything and I have been loath to force him into it just for college application purposes, especially when he already has very limited downtime. I am going to push him on the volunteering front. Regular gigs are tough because his practices are unpredictable, but hopefully we can figure something out.

I guess I fall more on the side of let him be himself and let the chips fall where they may, which likely means a super-selective school is not realistic unless he is recruited.


With those scores (unlikely to go up more than 150-200 points, even with test prep), I'd say the super-selective schools are likely out. I'd focus on test-optional SLACs -- either where he can play his sport D3, or even not and have a great college experience.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:55     Subject: Time consuming sport as only extra-curricular?
This is OP. Thanks for all the suggestions. He’s got great grades with decent rigor (4 APs junior year). First SAT was 1260, hopefully we can bring that up into at least the 1300s with some additional prep for the next go round, but we will see. I’m pretty confident he can play D3, but D1 (which is his dream) is still a question mark (has heard from some D1 coaches but the transfer portal seems to have changed the timeline for recruiting, with D1 coaches looking at high school players later than they did in the past).

I agree that he could have found time for more activities, but he hasn’t been really passionate about anything and I have been loath to force him into it just for college application purposes, especially when he already has very limited downtime. I am going to push him on the volunteering front. Regular gigs are tough because his practices are unpredictable, but hopefully we can figure something out.

I guess I fall more on the side of let him be himself and let the chips fall where they may, which likely means a super-selective school is not realistic unless he is recruited.