<p>For example, if you know you're not good enough to play at the college level but you play on your high school varsity team, do colleges still look at/like that?</p>
<p>Most of the colleges in this country (probably 95% or more) care little about ECs. For those that do, mere "participation" is not enough. They get apps from the top kids, and they want to see that you've excelled at your ECs. They don't want to see kids that are a "mile wide and an inch deep", they want kids that have really stood out. You don't have to play sports to get into these places, but if you do you and its one of your main ECs need to be more than just a member of the varsity team. We're talking about kids that are all-city and all-state, hold state records, sometimes even get on Olympic teams.</p>
<p>NSM, a alumni interviewer for an Ivy-league school, posted a list of what would be considered impressive ECs at the top schools. See the post at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=210497%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=210497</a></p>
<p>I would say that just playing probably won't help you too much (but definately won't hurt), but being a team captain, showing leadership will definately help.</p>
<p>
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sometimes even get on Olympic teams.
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like that's ever going to happen, especially on the kids on CC who just study all day and have no other lives...</p>
<p>I'm going to guess that at many schools, admissions people know the type of commitment a sport requires and they take that into consideration. Participating in a HS sport for four years, even if you will not be playing in college, shows dedication, commitment, responsibility, sacrifice, leadership (in some cases), and concern for personal health. It may not be a BIG factor, especially at the very top schools (where every applicant is seemingly excellent in every area), but all of these things are good qualities that the applicant takes with him/her to college. I've heard that some schools really like athletes so that may help at those schools. Regardless, everyone always posits that schools are building a class. Since there are only so many spots for the elite athletes, perhaps they need to let a few kids in who will contribute to campus life by participating in the intramural frisbee league or whatver. In my own very humble opinion, participating in sports can only be a positive addition to the college application.</p>
<p>Participation in sports are another way to show a well rounded individual. </p>
<p>Body, spirit and mind, exercise each everyday. </p>
<p>I would think it would be a concern to see somebody lacking in one of those areas and may be why some "can't miss", miss?</p>
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Participation in sports are another way to show a well rounded individual.
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This is a common misconception, that colleges are looking for "well rounded individuals". They're not. </p>
<p>They are looking for kids who have excelled in some area. They build a well-rounded class by choosing from these top performers, on the idea that having the talented artist rubbing shoulders with the community activist and the inquisitive scientist will bring benefits to them all.</p>
<p>See, for example, the essay at <a href="http://www.prepme.com/advice/the-myth-of-the-well-rounded-student.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.prepme.com/advice/the-myth-of-the-well-rounded-student.php</a></p>
<p>And from sucky personal experience, I'd like to highlight one part of the article.</p>
<p>"Beware of overload, especially if it might hurt academic achievement: aside from a few recruited athletes, even the best extracurricular activities will never trump a poor academic record and/or low test scores."</p>
<p>Though I certainly didn't do so badly in the end, I'm convinced that my overloaded schedule, sleep deprivation, and resulting academic 'slump' ('slump' is relative) lead to my failure at HYS...</p>
<p>In fact, in my senior year, despite some previous success, I dropped Varsity Soccer in order to pursue my other, more important interests.</p>
<p>Playing sports does still make a person well-rounded... Being a strong student + playing a varsity sport = studious and athletic... Whether that helps with college or not, it's great to be that intelligent&athletic.</p>