Do colleges care if I played sports in my freshman year?

Applying to College
1

Hello,
I attend a Prep school in the Northeast known for its athletic program. I did not play football or baseball in my freshman year due to injuries, but have since gone on to play 3 years of varsity football, 1 year of JV baseball, and 2 years of varsity baseball. Will my lack of athletic participation in freshman year hurt me? Also, if asked during an interview the reason I didn’t play freshman year, should I reply because of my injuries, or does it sound like I am making excuses?

2

It won’t hurt you. You can even note on your app that you were injured freshman year. It won’t sound like you are making excuses at all, being injured is a legit reason not to play. However, unless you are trying to be recruited for a sport, the fact that you did a sport isn’t what matters as much as your commitment/leadership/teamwork/etc you showed by being on a team.

3

As a rule of thumb, the harder the college to get into, the more it matters that you demonstrate consistent, long-term commitment to a few things. If sports is one of your things, then you should do it ASAP. If it’s not one of your things, then don’t worry about it. However, getting started early can’t hurt and might help.

4

If you made another ECs dont worry the sports. If you dont you ll have to have a strong gpa and SAT.

5

It’s part of your story, but not the thing that’s going to make or break your application to anywhere. Just tell it like it is. Injury is a legitimate reason not to play.

6

I don’t see where it’s an issue. You don’t make a varsity team by picking up the sport your sophomore or junior year so it’s not like joining a club late in HS for a resume builder.

7

Tell the truth won’t hurt you at all. It is a non-issue.

8

Either you won’t play in colleges, and sports are another EC for you
or you will play in college, and all that matters is your current performance.

I do alumni interviews and I wouldn’t really care why you didn’t play freshman year…either you were just getting used to HS, you were injured, or you just discovered the sports. If you didn’t play senior year I would be more concerned.