<p>I am currently in 10th grade (Sophomore). I am not in any school sports, but I am part of a bowling league outside of school. In school I am currently part of the Photography Club, and I may join student council (unless it is too late). I am not in many sports or clubs because the budget did no pass, so we no longer have late busses. I am trying out for the bowling team next year, I think I will be good enough by then, and if not, definetly by my senior year.</p>
<p>How important are sports to being accepted to the USAFA?</p>
<p>My current Final GPA Average is a 4.0 (just the final grades, not the average quarter grades), and I got a 92 on the Math A regents and a 95 on the earth science regents. This year I am in AP Bio, AP Euro, English Honors, and Symphonic Band (the advanced band).</p>
<p>I just started CAP 2 days ago and I will be aple to earn my Mitchell before I graduate from High School.</p>
<p>So I guess the extra-curricular activities only include Photography Club and CAP. I have been in Student council from 5th-8th grade, I really wish I stayed with it.</p>
<p>So, should I strongly consider joining a sport? If so, which would be good to join? I haven’t played sports since I was in elementary school. I am thinking of joining Cross Country but they meet everyday. Would the USAFA like if I was in that? What other sports are not as time consuming (like, football may not be a good choice because there are games I need to go to, and I will be busy with CAP).</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. If you need more info just ask.</p>
<p>USAFA seems to like extracurricular activities in general. The thing about sports is that they are oriented around leadership and teamwork...just like USAFA. Plus the physical fitness aspect is big. </p>
<p>I think that you shouldn't join a team just to join a team. If you are really interested in a sport go for it, but if not spend your time doing other extra curricular activities you're interested in . Re-joining the student council is a great idea.</p>
<p>I think I have the teamwork/leadership part covered by being in the Civil Air Patrol (and possibly soon Student Council). I also forgot to add that I am part of the Folk Group at my local church (I play the clarinet at Sunday Masses) and we meet wednesday nights... I am sure that's something else that's good. I would rather be part of several clubs than one sport... Maybe I will look for a sport that doesn't meet everyday, or I can join the weight lifting club. Then again, bowling is everyday I think (if i make the team). But, it is just practice, so I am sure I will still be able to be part of other clubs. And, since I like photography so much, I will probably run for an office job, I may even become president.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. If anyone else would like to post their opinion, please do so!</p>
<p>if you want to test yourself on all levels, then try out for wrestling. If you can handle school at the same time as losing weight, extreme physical training, and all day saturday meets, then you should be very prepared for USAFA.</p>
<p>i would definately encourage joing a sport. like k10 said it builds physical strength and it is totally based on the strength of the team. i run cross coutry so i recomend that, but i think any sport would help you out. i never had student council positions or anything, but xc helped me build my leadership qualities. if transportation is a problem check out carpool possibilities. also, you sound very qualified in the academic areas so keep that up. good luck.</p>
<p>I read somewhere on the USAFA site that they recommend either team sports (for leadership and team work) or sports that builds stamenia (porbably b/c it'll help you in BCT and other physical assessments), and they cited the sports that build stamenia were swimming and wrestling, because both are heavily dependant on overall body muscle building. I'd recommend swimming (b/c I swim), unless if you like wrestling with sweaty guys.</p>
<p>And 81% is well below the historical average... Could mean they're getting easier on this one, but I hope not. If I was king for a day, I'd make it a requirement--waiverable only in rare exceptions--but I'm old school. Very old school, right UN?</p>
<p>I think its very important. I say that from a conversation with my admissions counselor. I'd probably be sitting here with either an LOA or appointment if I had done school sports. My counselor said my EC was lacking there even though I hold two state Taekwondo Championship titles and two 6th placs in the world for TKD. Literally, (combined with being in the PNQ pool) I have to wait till march ONLY cause of sports. So, if I were you, I would jump on in, can't hurt. I would recommend XC, I hated running till I started to run this year. I love it and regret not having done it. </p>
<p>I am a sophomore as well as gglock08, and am planning on applying to AFA and MMA in the next few years. I have like a 97 gpa (unweighted) with all honors classes (Pre-Calculus 99, Chem 98, English 98) and am in like the top 8% of my grade (320 students approx). Next year, I am taking 2 AP math courses, but I was thinking about taking a non-honors world cultures course to cut down some work. Would this be a wise decision??</p>
<p>I am not in many clubs, only teenage republicans, but I am in the school marching band, pep band, pit orchestra, jazz band, church youth group, and Boy Scouts/Venture Scouts. I am an Eagle Scout and working on my Ranger Award(tougher than Eagle). I also am a pilot in training and hope to solo on my 16th birthday and earn my private license before the end of HS.</p>
<p>As for sports, I am on the Varsity Golf team (no letter yet) and on JV baseball (very competitive), and on the powerlifting team (not a school sport). And I was on JV wrestling for a year, but didn't have it in me to take the punishment.</p>
<p>Are there any sports/activities that wouldn't take huge amounts of time but would be fun and good on a service academy application or would be good preparation?? Also, pertaining to leadership, would being a golf team captain or marching band drum major be a better choice because each activity is equally important to me??</p>
<p>I think for you too we would all recommend XC. But, if you're already a JV captain on other things, why would you quit? If anything, that would hurt. </p>
<p>Taking an "easier" class won't hurt imp, but make sure to do well. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how much flying helps, I think a lot of people do get their license, or have the experience.</p>
<p>Speaking of, I need to hurry up an finish my license, my first flight was on my 16th b-day, and my 18th is coming up in may lol.</p>
<p>Pilot2B and I are very similar :-). There are no late busses this year so I can't do sports this year. If they come back next year I definetly will do XC in fall, bowling in winter (if i don't make it i will do track), and track in spring. If not...maybe I can have a friend who will join and we can car pool. Since I am not doing sports I think I will see if I can still join student council now.</p>
<p>ya if you dont mind running 6 miles everyday. But if I were you I would definately do Track and Field. I am a two sport 4 year Varsity athlete (Football and Track) and the leadership that is developed in both sports is extraordinary. I think that the reason I got into several colleges is because of my extracurricular schedule. I think it is an important aspect of high school. Track and Field is also a better choice because you can join it this year if you want and you can do events like jumping, or pole vaulting, or hurdling (like me). These practices are pretty laid back, at least they look easier than long distance. But that might be because we have a nationally ranked long distance team. But I would definately make the choice of doing aTrack.</p>
<p>I live in Los Angeles, California so Football is a Fall sport and Track and Field is in the Spring!!! I dont know where you live but i guess they are in the same season. I have to say that if you can do football, it was the best experience that I have had in my life thus far. I know it must sound stupid but the bond that you make with your team is like having a second family. Living in Southern California the competition is extremely fierce, and i was playing against some future professionals. Our rival school has the number 1 quarterback in the nation...pretty freakin crazy....we got our ass beat.....but if you are willing to make the committment, it is well worth it.</p>