<p>Well first of all recognize that I am not an admissions officer, or even a parent. I’m another student like you. Also my pet theory is that once the acceptance rate dips below 20% the process goes as follows: sort by grades, gpa, test scores, course rigor, etc. Then pick out the Olympic athletes, business owners, Non-profit starters, and cancer-curers and set them aside. For everyone else they stick your application on a dartboard, spin it, and throw red and green darts to see who gets accepted. It’s honestly seems to be pretty random.</p>
<p>But your question.</p>
<p>Unless your family is going to be absolutely destitute (hyperbole, but you catch my drift) if you continue playing, if you like it I say don’t quit. If you don’t like it that’s an entirely different story. Why is she making you quit, if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>I would say that your college application reflects who you are. If who you are is someone who is dedicated to one thing, and has tried out some other stuff along the way and didn’t like it than so be it. I think, and if other people answer this post I’m sure they will agree, that colleges tend to like people who have done things for long periods of time. The most important part is that YOU like what you’re doing, and you’re not simply doing it to “impress” schools. If you find something Junior year that you love and you put a lot of time into, that will show up on your Common App, since there is a section for exactly how many hours you spend doing each activity (on average). I’m a firm believer in doing things for yourself, and not so that it “looks good on your college application”.</p>
<p>It also depends on your definition of a “good” college. There are SO many variables, that I don’t see the point in worrying about them now. However do take the time to look at what types of schools you want to apply to and creep on their message boards here so that you can see what the case may be. Don’t worry about being locked in: I had 10 schools I was applying to picked out and only ended up applying to 4 of them. And that was this summer (senior year)</p>