Hey,
I’m a 16 year old Junior and online poker has been a somewhat significant source of income for me since I was 15. I spent a lot of hours practicing and a lot of hours playing. Would colleges look unfavorably upon this? I plan to apply to ivies and my resume is pretty good overall. I mean, poker is something I spent a lot of time, energy, and effort on which shows passion/persistence/determination. I’m just worried that the college admissions people will not be too happy about it.
Thanks
<p>hehe I wouldnt do it.</p>
<p>don't the last thing colleges want to see is a 17 year old poker addict. I mean, if you can make it a hook and show colleges that it's your ultimate passion and you showed alot of ec's related to it, well yea put it on.</p>
<p>I think you should put it on - but be sure to send a supplementary paragraph or two explaining what it is you actually do - competitive poker, not just games on the weekend for fun. You should mention that it is a significant source of income for u and also mention what u've learned by playing it. - I think that if u convey it in the right light, its a unique EC that can work in ur favor.</p>
<p>Well it's illegal for you to gamble at 15, so I don't think colleges would look at it favorably. It's pretty comparable to someone putting that they've had a lot of success selling drugs in high school, showing great business sense and dedication to their job.</p>
<p>Gambling has become a big problem at some colleges. I don't think I would mention it unless you have some legal venue where you have been extraordinarily successful--such as being in one of those big stakes games that are featured on television. And I have no idea whether is is even legal for minors to gamble. If it is not, it would be foolish to list that activity.</p>
<p>NOOOO don't put it haha.</p>
<p>"playing poker as a significant SOURCE OF INCOME??"
It is immediately a negative attitude towards u
the last thing colleges need is a conman on campus lol</p>
<p>i know someone who made 15k over the summer through online poker. i would say that if you have won anything that is significant, e.g. national competitions, put it on your resume</p>
<p>You can't win National Poker tournies if your underage because they wont let you play. I probably wouldn't put it unless you find a good explantion(the statistical/critical thinking aspects of the game, many top poker players when to really good colleges).</p>
<p>OMG! Dont even mention it. If there is a way you can put a spin on it, without mentioning it is poker and gambling then I would list it. For instance if you have a website or an online business. But thats stretching it....</p>
<p>For Gawdsakes, leave it off unless you've found some legal way to do it! I wish I could have found a legal way. LOL</p>
<p>Ok... well to address some comments/questions of yours:</p>
<p>1) I know it's illegal, which is why I've only won some online tournaments with decent prize pools, but these haven't been natioanllly viewed</p>
<p>2) I wouldn't say this is like being a good drug dealer, because when I turn 21 I'm going to have such a leg up on people who decided to wait untill legal age to start playing</p>
<p>3) As much as people want to look at it as reckless gambling, I would say it's probably the best form of gambling out there. No where else do you have the odds stacked in your favor if you're good enough.</p>
<p>4) I don't want to go into how much money I've won, but to me it's pretty good</p>
<p>5) I'm not addicted to it.. it's just like a job. For example, this schoolyear, as a junior, I played very lightly compared to last year as a sophmore because I am motivated and wanted to focus on school/sports. That doesn't mean I can't go back to it and it doesn't mean I can't stop when I want to stop.</p>
<p>yeah...scratch what I said b4 - didn't know it was illegal lol
def DO NOT put on apps</p>
<p>If you think that schools are going to look favorably upon illegal activity, no matter how creative or lucrative, you're not thinking logically. </p>
<p>"I've been engaging in illegal activities, but it's cool because I've made a ton of money!' Get real!</p>
<p>Ultimately, colleges are going to assume you're being facetious, but you could use that to your advantage; just write an awesome essay out of it.</p>
<p>heres an advice:</p>
<p>start a research in relation to probability of playing poker. Colleges will like that</p>
<p>actually, how about an alternative...writing your essay on it. i wouldn't mention the illegal gambling for money aspect, but if you make it really funny and well-written, an essay would be a way to highlight your interest without, well, admitting your breaking the law.</p>
<p>(btw, on my dad's app to stanford one of the questions was what would you write a book about; his essay was about how he would write about gambling and they let him in, so you never know!--this was a while ago, however, before poker became a fad and when people were more laidback about the money bit)</p>
<p>P.S. On a tangent, I don't know that poker has the best odds of making money, even if you are really good (unless you are playing against people who are significantly worse than you)...i'd say blackjack, particularly when one is counting cards..........</p>
<p>skierdude1000, how do you collect the money? Who is the check made out to?</p>
<p>Nah, I think he's right about poker having great odds if you're good enough. The main difference between poker and blackjack is in poker you play against other individuals, not the house. </p>
<p>
[quote]
2) I wouldn't say this is like being a good drug dealer, because when I turn 21 I'm going to have such a leg up on people who decided to wait untill legal age to start playing
[/quote]
...Yeah, those law-abiding idiots.</p>
<p>:-/</p>
<p>And HOW exactly does that make you not like being a drug dealer?</p>
<p>I think he's saying that drug-dealing has truly no inherint benefit, while poker can and does.</p>