Hi, I am a freshman currently, and I want to know if the sports factor into decisions at Harvard. I’m not talking being world-class player, but rather being in a varsity sport. For my freshman year, I have decided to do lifetime sports like ice skating, strength and conditioning, etc. to adjust to the new school life and to focus on academics. However, I am thinking of trying out for JV Soccer, JV Squash, and Varsity Track for my sophomore year to expand my skills and athleticism. I just want to know if my freshman year sports would actually factor into my application or not.
Sports are a huge factor for Harvard, and other ivy league schools, but ONLY if you are applying as a Division 1 athletic recruit.
If you just play a sport recreationally – be it soccer, squash, track, basketball, baseball, etc – then it’s just another extracurricular activity like doing student council, debate, student newspaper, theater, dance,et al.
Bottom line: If you were aiming to be a Division 1 recruited athlete, you would have spent last summer at some sort of training camp and not just now thinking about what sport you would like to do… So, don’t worry if sports matter – because for you (and most student’s), they don’t. Do something because you LOVE to do it, not because it might help you gain a leg up in the admissions process: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways