<p>I'm currently a sophomore, and I've been searching universities for the past hour, updating my list. I realized that I have a few extracurriculars here and there, but there's not ONE that I'm extremely passionate about. I mean I like all my extracurriculars, but I can't decide which one I want to pursue the most. I know Duke especially loves extracurriculars. I'm obsessed with Duke, as you can see by my username...</p>
<p>My options are piano, tennis, and debate.</p>
<p>Piano - I've been playing off and on for 6 years. I'm not that good at all, because I never practiced, and I haven't played since May. I don't know if I like it. I don't hate it. It's alright. Sorry, I really just don't know.</p>
<p>Tennis - I LOVE playing tennis. The only thing is that I suck. I almost made the varsity team last year. The coach said I was ranked #12 when he was only taking 10. I'm planning to practice (which hasn't happened yet) so I can at least make the team this year. I've been playing off and on for about 4-5 years. I haven't played for about 3 weeks because of interruptions and trips. I have a ball machine, but I'm really worried that if I dedicate any time towards something other than my grades, they'll slip. I barely have straight As, and I'm scared to risk getting a B since I already screwed up freshman year by getting 4 semester Bs. </p>
<p>Debate - Debate comes in between my love for piano and tennis. I like debate, but not as much as I love playing tennis. I've been doing debate since 9th grade. I'd say I'm pretty good, but I haven't placed at a tournament yet. I'm worried about pursuing this extracurricular because it's very academic, rather than artistic or physical. </p>
<p>I'm thinking about quitting piano for good. Not because I don't like it, I just don't have the time for it. Debate is definitely not going away because I'm already apart of the team, I like it, and there's no turning back. I've been through too much to quit tennis, plus I love it. But one of them needs to go. </p>
<p>I don’t see why you have to choose one. There’s no such thing as “no time” for an instrument. It’s a piano, you can just play it whenever you have free time. No need to formalize something you love by placing it in a category and saying you have more important priorities. </p>
<p>Definitely stick with debate, I’ve been doing it for three years, and it’s been extremely rewarding. Because of it, I’m a better public speaker and I don’t get nervous in tense situations, which are two great life skills. Plus, breaking for the first time is a nice experience, and the possibility of going to States or Nationals is always exciting.</p>
<p>I rather fully dedicate myself to my grades, volunteering, and one or two extracurriculars than to spread myself too thin. </p>
<p>I’m worried that debate is too much of an academic extracurricular. It’s apart of school. I like all three, so it’s not a matter of doing one strictly for college, however college is a big factor into me choosing which one or two to pursue. I know Princeton loves the arts, which would mean they’d love piano the most. I need to choose ONE that I can dedicate the most amount of time to. </p>
<p>Really it’s between piano and tennis. Either piano will be my main focus, and tennis can be a hobby, or tennis will be my main focus, and piano can just be a hobby. Debate is staying as is - regularly practicing once a week except tournament weeks.</p>
<p>Well it all depends what event you do. Humorous/Dramatic interps and poetry really relate more to performing/artsy kind of people, but events like debate and policy are more academic.</p>
<p>“I know Princeton loves the arts, which would mean they’d love piano the most.” </p>
<p>That’s kind of a dangerous mentality. I hope you know instruments like piano and violin are very popular here in Jersey high schools and so many people from Jersey apply to Princeton. </p>
<p>Keep playing piano and tennis and see where it takes you. You still have plenty of time to narrow your interests!</p>
<p>I do Congress and Public Forum, so yea, academic. YOU GUYS. I like BOTH. But, I need to choose which one I should dedicate the majority of my time to: tennis or piano. </p>
<p>Being ok at piano won’t get you too far, of all of the applicants I think it would be safe to assume over half are proficient on an instrument of some sort or vocally. Being ok at tennis will put you in a similar place, but you said you love it so you’ll enjoy it.</p>
<p>My friend is in Princeton this year, he quit band freshman year and did all academic clubs throughout high school so don’t worry about what Princeton loves.</p>
<p>Okay. Tennis it is. But I don’t think I’ll be able to be the one known as “the tennis player” because I’m not that good, and I don’t think I’ll get that far in 2-3 years. So if I’m on the varsity team for 3 years, doing debate for 4 years, Key Club for 4 years, Habitat for Humanity for 3 years, and get the gold medal for the Congressional Award, do you think that’ll fit Ivy League standards?</p>
<p>I completely agree with NavyBlueNinja – do what you love doing, do it well, and do it alot. Because today employers and colleges are looking for people who are specialists in their fields – people who are good at what they do. And you’re not going to get any better at something if you don’t practice it, beat your weaknesses to a pulp, – and you wont want to practice if you don’t really enjoy it. Like, for example, I used to write a lot when I was in school (I graduated college 5 yrs ago), I learned HTML on my own, sang, played the french horn, tried softball, did some graphic design…but the things I liked and worked on I become really good at. I only played French horn for a year, worked with HTML for a few years, played softball for one or two weeks, and did some graphic design for maybe 3 years – but I sang for 12 years, and wrote for 18 years – and now, I just sing randomly, like I did for a talent show two times, and people come up to me and said “Wow! you have such a good voice” and it’s wierd – cause now singing well is effortless for me. And writing, I finished a novel which I started in 8th grade, and finished two years into college. And now at work, people ask me to write letters asking people to be more involved in our school (it’s a small private school), and even letters for grants. But the things I left – like HTML, softball, the french horn, and graphic design I have’t kept up with it since singing and writing came out on top, haha, so I’m mediocre when it comes to those Hope that helps!!</p>
<p>Eh? Haha… Well, no one should tell you what to do. And it sounds like you don’t need other people to tell you what to do, but rather to confirm that you are making a good decision. So I will confirm it for you: go for what you love; go for tennis :)</p>
<p>I’m not sure. ECs are something looked at, but your personality I think is what they really look at. By personality I mean how you seem based on your recs, essay, and overall application and if they want you on their campus. Each school has a different thing they really enjoy and I have no clue what it is for Princeton because I have no plans in ever applying.
You seem qualified.</p>
<p>I’m going to try to make the tennis team for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. For debate, I’ll keep doing it. It’s not really something that I practice each day, rather only when tournaments are near. I’m dropping piano. I haven’t played since May anyways. It’s my least favorite out of the three. I’m doing the Congressional Award (for those of you who know what it is), which should keep me in par with tennis (Physical Development) and debate (Personal Development) - along with volunteering at the hospital (Volunteering), and of course my Expedition/Exploration.</p>
<p>Anyways, thank you everyone for making me realize to just do what I love. I really appreciate all your answers!</p>
<p>Nice choices! U seem to have covered a broad spectrum of ECS good job! Let us know how the tennis and debate team work out for you! </p>
<p>Ps: ditto @bandgeek true colleges are looking for personalities not justa list of recs…but I disgree that ECs don’t help develop ure personality … :/</p>
Hope that helps!!</p>