common app

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>do i actually have to try really hard on the common app if i'm a recruited athlete at a NESCAC or ivy? i understand i have to fill everything out and send it in, but how much effort do i need to put in the essays, describing the extra-curriculars, etc? </p>

<p>i guess this doesn't speak very well to my work ethic but when it comes to BS things like this or SAT prep, i'll pass. (btw i scored a 2200 on the SATs so don't judge me PLEASE) it's just that i'd rather read or practice or work-out or go grocery shopping at TJ's........</p>

<p>so does my essay and extra-curriculars really matter on the common app if i'm a recruited athlete? or can i just rely on my athletic ability and strong test scores and GPA?</p>

2

<p>Submit anything less than your absolute best work AT YOUR PERIL!</p>

<p>Do you really want to risk creating a situation where your entire life you look back to this moment and think … if only I had not phoned my college application?</p>

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<p>confused778,</p>

<p>Since you have NOT been admitted yet, I’d put some effort into it. I think it may look poorly on you, your team and your coach if you do less than you are capable of. You don’t want to show the Adcomm and your coach that you are not taking this seriously.</p>

<p>Obviously you have some brains, why not try to use them? Until you are accepted by Admissions, you are still competing to be accepted as both a student and an athlete. What happens if the coach finds another athlete tomorrow at your position that is either a better athlete or has better SATs, and a better essay? What then?</p>

<p>Right now you have a fantastic opportunity. Don’t take it for granted. There is a very good chance that when you step foot on one these campuses as a freshmen you will feel incredibly average because everybody else is extremely intelligent. Question: What is going to seperate you from these other smart people…Answer: Attitude and work ethic. The competition is unbelievable. You may want to start working a little harder right now.</p>

4

<p>OP
Some of your precious posts are written from a “parent’s” POV and others a teenager.
Assuming that Amherst, Middlebury and Princeton do all want you (teen) and you are being recruited for soccer etc…understand that admissions admits…not coaches.
No matter how good you think you are–remember there are plenty of recruits to replace you… So if you don’t take your application process/essays etc seriously, it will hurt you.</p>

5

<p>Ah, youth.</p>

<p>At first I thought perhaps this was some sort of satire, and perhaps it is. If so, well done. But if it was a serious query, it deserves an answer.</p>

<p>There are no sure things in life and an application that shows anything less than your best effort will no doubt put your acceptance in danger. The same goes for your interview. Show up and go through the motions or display the attitude you’ve put forth here and you will be taking a chance at blowing it. Yes, even if you’ve gotten word from a coach that you are “in”. Admissions people at these institutions do not suffer fools gladly. These schools (NESCAC and Ivy) have plenty of choices of “athletic ability and strong test scores and GPA”. Those attributes don’t make you special, they make you one in a large crowd. </p>

<p>I’ll finish with one more piece of advice and a sincere hope:</p>

<p>My last bit of advice? Try and use “I” instead of “i”. Capitalize when appropriate. I know that appears obvious but I am not certain you have a grasp of the obvious. Not yet at least.</p>

<p>My hope? You improve your attitude. Believe it or not, attitude and work ethic are important to my kid and teammates. Why? Because everybody on the team is athletic and extremely smart. The ones that think they don’t have to suffer through the “BS” are not well received. Trust me on this one.</p>

<p>You may think I’m being too hard on you. Perhaps I am. But you need a serious wake up call and I have no problem being one of several to deliver it. Ring, ring.</p>

6

<p>Confused778 - Don’t sweat it!</p>

<p>Go practice or work-out or go grocery shopping at TJ’s…</p>

<p>Or better yet, use all that extra time you have from not working on your Common App to stand in front of the mirror and practice saying …</p>

<p>“Would you like to Supersize that?”</p>

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<p>I meant PREVIOUS not precious. Sorry–typo</p>

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<p>I think “precious” summed it up perfectly. ;-)</p>

9

<p>Just because you are a recruited athlete doesn’t mean you will get in. There are plenty of stories about that testify to that. Yes, do your best on your application because the coaches are not the ones reviewing your application.</p>