How to present my ECs?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, I've been wondering something that I'm hoping somebody can help me clear up
I have a decent number of extra-curriculars (both athletic and academic), but the two that take up the bulk of my time are weight lifting and boxing, both of which I've been doing for 4+ years now (probably devote a total of 18-20 hours to both sports on a weekly basis). The issue is that I haven't been allowed to compete in either sport since I nearly destroyed my back doing deadlifts about 2 years ago. The end result is that I have two sports that I'm really very passionate about, but no tangible awards or prizes that demonstrate my devotion.</p>

<p>My question is: can I still attempt to focus my app, or at least the EC portion of my app, around these two sports? Or is the lack of accolades going to break my chances at top schools?</p>

2

<p>You definitely should focus your app around those activities – passion/demonstrated commitment is what really matters! You can list how many hours/week you train on CommonApp, and you should consider writing one or more of your essays about your experiences/passion for the sports, particularly as you are recovering from an injury. Having a coach write you a recommendation letter might also be helpful if you don’t already have a ton and s/he knows you really well. (more than 3 is sometimes overkill) Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I agree with zakuropanda on all of his/her points. I also think that continuing to train, even knowing that competing and winning accolades isn’t an option, shows character. Sometimes, it’s not about winning prizes - so good for you!</p>