<p>Who would colleges be more likely to accept?</p>
<p>-3.8ish GPA
-5 APs total (planning), good scores
-pretty good SATs
-student government, 2 yrs
-2 sports (jv frosh/soph, varsity junior/senior with luck)
-community service/job experience</p>
<p>vs.</p>
<p>-Really high GPA & test scores, lots of APs, volunteering club presidents, etc. but no sports?</p>
<p>I know I'm capable of being student #2, but I'd much rather be student #1.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>PLAY SPORTS!!!!!!! (Especially soccer :) ) For me, it was the most fun I had in high school. It is a great way to meet upperclassmen roll models, and to get to know lots of people in the school. Plus, it is important to exercise, so you might as well exercise while hanging out w/ ppl from your school. </p>
<p>However, that being said it might not be the best college admissions advice. But this part of your post was key "I'd much rather be student #1". THAN BE STUDENT #1!!!! Colleges will see your passion for your activities.</p>
<p>
[quote]
that being said it might not be the best college admissions advice.
[/quote]
why. </p>
<p>depends. if you're a candidate for hypsmc, then playing sports is quite unusual...more unusual than, say, allstate music (especially if you're asian). and unusual usually means favorable!</p>
<p>or u can be both ^_^</p>
<p>Hum, I guess I thought that playing sports was very common. But maybe it isn't any more. I was just guessing, not basing my statement on any credible sources. All the more reason to play soccer, I guess.</p>
<p>it is unless you're also smart
(not trying to diss anyone here? i play a sport)</p>
<p>I am student #1, actually.</p>
<p>I know A TON of people that are the second example, and they get better grades than me, because their life is school.</p>
<p>If you're amazing at sports, this can make you an auto-admit for many schools, even those in the ivy league. For example, at Columbia, an athletic student not only got in with a 1200 SAT(M + V), but got the ED deadline extended by an entire week because he had "too much homework" If you're promising (at a college level) in athletics, then sports will help you tremendously. If not, they may help, but just as much as any other EC would.</p>
<p>(I also play a sport)</p>
<p>You might not play a sport but you could do other activities like music. I don't think colleges expect all students to be athlete.</p>
<p>i play a sport and have OK stats</p>
<p>Wen: On your college apps, how do you say that you play an instrument? Like in essays? Also, what if you play an instrument (i.e. piano) but aren't very good (aka, you just started taking lessons)? In this case, does mentioning this even help?</p>
<p>I think you can play sports and still have really high test scores and gpa. Two of my friends got 35's on the act and play multiple varsty sports with really high gpa's. Sports in hs are tons of fun, you should def. play them. They do take up some time but you will still have plenty of time to work on schoolwork.</p>
<p>Unless you are at a really high level..then just as much as any other club/EC. Like I was only a 2 year Varsity/2 year JV player..and I don't think that will be a huge deal, but it was a sport..required comittement, and they will see that, plus I was captian in JV, so that was something..but since it wasn't varsity, I doubt it'll make a difference. Plus, our team is HORRIBLE.. :P</p>
<p>What if you are at a really high level and have a lot of prestigious awards/rankings/championships, but you're not good enough to play at the colleges you want to go to? I'm a tennis player, but because teams are so small and so many of the best players are foreign and the best players are rich and want to go to the best schools (unlike football, basketball), its not the best sport for the college acceptances into prestigious schools. I hope they would take the level of achievement seriously like any other EC, but sometimes I wonder if many of the best schools disregard really high achieving athletes if they aren't being recruited and know they aren't good enough for the college varsity team, even their relative level of success might, for example, mean getting recruited everywhere if it was another sport. Wow, that turned into a personal rant, sorry.</p>
<p>well. if you're asian
it stands out more than if you play like
piano or something</p>
<p>Halie </p>
<p>"On your college apps, how do you say that you play an instrument? Like in essays? Also, what if you play an instrument (i.e. piano) but aren't very good (aka, you just started taking lessons)? In this case, does mentioning this even help?"</p>
<p>You can mention it under "activities" (with indications of the time spent on each activity - overall years and hours/week) and tell in your essay why it's important for you. Well, of course, the more distinguished you are in ANY kind of activity, the better. ;) Outstanding recording sent to the college's music department, honors and awards, music-related recommendations - the more of those you can demonstrate in/with your application, the better your chances are.</p>
<p>really? i heard that unless ur minoring in music or whatever u shouldn't send in supplements</p>
<p>If you're GOOD. A LOT! If not, then not so much.</p>
<p>how do they kno u actually played it</p>
<p>Your SAT scores aren't gonna drop if you play sports. GPA, maybe.</p>
<p>Do it.</p>
<p>Sports don't help much unless you get recruited.
And that's final. Otherwise it would count about as much as being in any other normal activity where you aren't distinguished- but on which you probably spend considerably less time than you do on sports.
And no, playing a sport is not that rare at all for a HYPSMC applicant- the stereotype of good students having no life is just that, a stereotype :(</p>