<p>I am currently a junior, but I have never played a school sport before. Yeah, I do sometimes get out and play and have fun, but most of my time is devoured by homework and school-related activities. First question: Am I too late for sports? I mean, it is so worthless to put I played like 10 sports but only one year each, which was presumably this year. This leads me to the second question: Do I need to mention how many years I have had played a sport?</p>
<p>A sport is an extracurricular activity - no better/no worse than any other activity. If you have other activities that you enjoy, keep you occupied, and help define who you are, sports are not needed.
Yes, as you would have to do for all your activities.</p>
<p>Adding any activities at this stage may be viewed as obvious application-enhancing. </p>
<p>Why do you want to add “sports” to your resume? Any particular sport that you’re thinking of? It will not help you anymore from a college admissions standpoint than joining a club your junior year. Sports are a great way to stay in shape and have fun though, and if that’s what you’re after, I would encourage you to charge on ahead. If you just want the experience of playing a sport, than starting now, or in college on an intramural team may be good options. </p>
<p>The Common App asks for the years you have participated, the number of weeks per year you do an activity, and the number of hours per week you spend on an activity. So yes, they will have a pretty good idea of how committed you actually are to something. </p>
<p>My daughter did track her Junior year and used it in an essay for an admission of how she was not on Varsity until Senior year but helped motivate the younger kids. SHe ended up loving it. NO, never too late to join a sport and joined Snowboarding team Senior year and now is am amazing snowboarder and in the college club. </p>
<p>It is never to late to start any activity you might enjoy.
Should you join a sport JUST to look better to college admissions? NO!!
In fact, you should never do things to impress somebody else. Be yourself. Be the best YOU you can be. Not who you think they want you to be.
Do those things you might enjoy, be it in HS or life in general.</p>
<p>As long as you’re doing it for the right reason, it’s never too late to start anything. My D just walked on to a sport at college her freshman year, never done it in her life, and might make varsity next year. (They’re sort of desperate for warm bodies, but she’s actually decent at it.) And she’s about to try something else for the first time to keep in shape over the winter. She’s obviously doing it for the enjoyment and thrill of doing it, because it certainly won’t help her get into where she already is.</p>
<p>@skieurope I wouldn’t say anything at this point will be obvious application enhancing. If you join a club Junior year and maintain it through Senior year, it’s still pretty good. Many people take a while to settle into high school and join clubs.</p>
<p>However, sports are sort of different. Most people grow up liking/loving a sport. If you joined a sport at this point, it might look like it was for requirements or to look good. On the other hand, if you truly do want to get into a sport, go for it. Just know, it won’t help you with college admissions.</p>
<p>@Woandering Hence the qualifier “may.”</p>
<p>What I mean is that if I played basketball as an interest, a game that I like, since 8th grade, would I tell colleges I have played it since or just tell them how many years as an official school team?</p>
<p>Also, don’t colleges ask about length of club membership? That would be a bit too revealing compared with sports too.</p>
<p>If you are really actually interested in the sport, go for it. But having just another sport on your resume probably won’t help you very much.</p>