<p>Obviously, being a recruited athlete is going to help a lot in the college admissions process. However, would a college rather have a kid that participated (but isnt recruited) in varsity athletics every season of the year (2 hour time commitment after school each day, lots of effort involved) or a kid that was president of two or three clubs (significantly less time commitment and effort)?</p>
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<p>jman: colleges like kids who participate in EC's that foster self growth, leadership, responsibility, maturity, and community. It can be sports, music, dance, or clubs. Think of your EC as a vehicle you are driving- the vehicle is just a car that gets you from one place to another. The colleges don't care which car you drove in, they want to hear about the journey you took to get there. Do what interests you and push yourself to be your best. It isn't ONE thing or the other that determines your college admissions fate, it is all of the things together that let them know who you are. Don't sweat your EC choices too much.</p>
<p>Alright here is my personally opinion.</p>
<p>Admissions officers like to see student leadership in their candidates. So a candidate who was president of three clubs will most likely get into a top notch school (this is assuming that the gpa and rank are high) but it won't be paid for.</p>
<p>Now, if you play a sport and you are pretty good at it then expect to get into a top notch school and get it paid for.</p>
<p>So I think playing a sport outweights being involved with extracurricular activities. It shows dedication and commitment. You have to practice nearly two to three hours a day. It also shows an unique talent or ability. You can use that ability to get your education paid for.</p>
<p>ummm...koshi90, you kinda missed the point of my questions. I was asking whether being an athlete, but not recruited to a DI school with a scholarship, would be valued over/the same as/less than being a leader in a couple clubs?</p>
<p>As bessie indicated, sports, even at the non-recruited level, show commitment, enthusiasm, teamwork and all sorts of other positive values. Colleges know what it means if you say, "JV swim team, 9th & 10th grades, varsity swim team, 11th & 12th grades." They have an idea of the commitment involved.</p>
<p>However, saying "President, Drawing Club" or "President, Friendship Club" requires more explanation. It could mean a huge commitment or a small one. Colleges are not necessarily impressed with minimal commitment. In fact, being president of three clubs may indicate to them that there really *isn't * that much of a commitment, or how could one person have enough time to do three?</p>
<p>EC's are looked at in the context of your application. Do what you want to do.</p>
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Do what you want to do.
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<p>^^^Words of wisdom.</p>
<p>I think it's important to play a sport throughout high school and continue with it in some context in college. I don't think it's essential to be exceptionally good at the sport. You can even play jv. But it's important for the fitness and the team experience.</p>
<p>mammall, two of my three kids are/were h.s. varsity athletes (the third is still in kindergarten :D), and the one already in college has continued with one varsity sport, so count me as a huge believer in athletics. Nonetheless, I disagree with your post. Fitness/health and team experiences are terrific, but both fitness and the same kind of "team" experience can be achieved via other avenues. </p>
<p>Perhaps you meant that, but given the specific question, I think it's worth clarifying. </p>
<p>Chedva's post captures it all pretty succinctly and accurately:
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EC's are looked at in the context of your application. Do what you want to do.
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