<p>I think that sports and exercise is important and healthy, both for social life and physical health. But if op is looking for acceptance to college, the number of “captains of sport teams” who are applying will be very large (# of HS x # of sports available) compared with the pool of architect applicants who have taken beg arch, adv arch, art, and has a portfolio in hand. Maybe he can do a pickup game of basketball? And he can do IM football or basketball in college. I believe that op said that she didn’t have the funds for separate art classes.</p>
<p>DS does track and fencing. We both know that it’s for the social and physical benefits. It will have ZERO impact on his apps, though. Does this mean that he should not do it? NO. But if he had to decide between 2 different ECs, track vs another passion which will help both in his college and professional career, then it would seem that career would be the way to go. (analogy: kids who love to play music, but won’t be professional musicians).</p>
<p>It’s not all about apps, though. If your son is more passionate about football and basketball than about applying to that reach school in architecture, then do the sports. </p>
<p>I personally feel that the art helps to develop a theme that will get him accepted even to the schools that do not require a portfolio for the app. Additionally, he should consider submitting a portfolio as an art supplement to the arch schools that don’t require a portfolio.</p>