Hello, I’m about to be a junior in high school and I’m deciding on my schedule.
I think I have an idea of what I want to do in college, that being some science major and a minor in business. I am deciding on participating in clubs like HOSA and DECA.
The problem is that I’m debating if I should continue soccer. I enjoy soccer, but I will not be playing in college and I’m not particularly the most talented at the sport. But I know colleges look at extra curriculum, so I thought soccer would benefit me that way if i committed.
Should I stay in soccer? Will it help me be more attractive to colleges, or is being in HOSA and DECA good enough?
(If I don’t take soccer, I will be replacing it with an AP class)
You should stick with soccer. One more AP class in your schedule is not going to help you. Staying with soccer will show dedication. Of course, if you don’t want to continue soccer, you don’t need to just for the sake of college admissions, but giving up soccer for an AP class is not beneficial. If it was giving up soccer for something like an internship in a business or research experience, then it might be worth it.
At most colleges minimal participation in ECs is all that’s expected, and you’ll do that with your other clubs so you don’t need soccer as well. At very selective colleges they don’t want to just see member of this and that. They want to see achievement and/or leadership. If all you’re going to do is be a member of the team then it isn’t going to help you for these schools (nor will just being a member of some other clubs).
As Stanford says
If you enjoy soccer then you should by all means stay on the team but if your only reason is college admissions then you can drop it.
DS is a very good soccer player and enjoys it but definitely will not be playing in college. He has continued as he gets a lot of playing time and as I said, really enjoys it. It has not prevented him from doing other things but does make him be a bit more efficient with his time.
If you have something you enjoy much more than soccer then do that but I do not think you should look at whatever you do as being the one thing that will make a difference to which college you get accept to. I wish college admissions were more transparent and based on objective things but they are not and are not likely to change. Do what you enjoy, I think the key is to be sure you are doing something and not sitting around. To the extent you stick with something and have a leadership or active role it will be better for you and your chances. Good luck!