<p>Applying to college is just around the corner, or maybe a year or so away. Yet you sense no urgency and the only thing youd love to do most the time is, say, playing video games.</p>
<p>You know you are a good student, straight A all your life, got the highest scores available on the AP exams and SAT tests you took, and probably will ace the APs and SAT/ACT you are to take. You also know that something you are not good at and would love to improve upon for college applications at least, but they are not important at the moment.</p>
<p>Fast forward a year or two or three or more, do you have any regrets, or cherish the memory?</p>
<p>Nah, no regrets. I mean, there was a lot of anxiety but senior year was fun enough to make be forget a lot of that. And plus, I applied EA so it was all over by December.</p>
<p>Which colleges/universities would you like to apply to? Are they the kinds of places where the only thing that matters is your GPA and test scores? Then you are fine. Are they the kinds of places where you need to be able to say something more about your life than “I spent the last four years playing video games”? Then you aren’t fine, unless of course you are a nationally or internationally ranked professional competitor.</p>
<p>Only you know the answers to these questions.</p>
<p>I would also posit that if you manage to get a degree, your skills are severely limited vis a vis your peers when it comes to getting a job. </p>
<p>Interview A: “Tell me what you did during college?” “Umm, attended classes. And ruled a clan for World of Warcraft”</p>
<p>Interview B: “Tell me what you did during college?” “Did decent in my classes. Ran some workshops for my X club. Attended a national seminar for leadership in Y. And I ran for fitness and pleasure. Traveled around the region and saw some neat cities.”</p>
<p>I was looking for thoughts from those who’s been there/done that. Are you saying that a kid with perfect academic record and test scores in high school who’s addicted to Xbox won’t wake up in college? That’s scary.</p>
<p>Who’s to say lake? I’m sure there are cases both ways, dontcha think?</p>
<p>I attended an HYP college and I knew a guy who didn’t graduate with me because he screwed up his eighth and final semester-- b/c he was addicted video games. Still hasn’t ever gotten his diploma. How about 'dem apples?</p>
<p>I was about to blame the parents for not providing (unable or otherwise) the kid with enough stimulants and opportunities to stay away from the toys. T26E4’s example may shift the blame to the kid, at least partially. A relief for the parents it seems.</p>
<p>Let me close this thread by stating that it’s the parents’ fault for unable to direct, channel, and support your kid’s energy to more productive activities. Lack of resources is a good excuse, but not good enough.</p>