How bad does it look for someone to join a sport or two in their Junior year? Will ivies look down upon this? Did anyone do this and still get accepted to the #1 college of their choice?
<p>i don't know why it would be bad, maybe not as favorable as all 4 years. i think we as applicants tend to stress out about little things like that too much. by the way, im in that situation, but im speculating.</p>
<p>Yeah, we do...</p>
<p>anyone else know anything about this?</p>
<p>Just join the team because you want to.</p>
<p>I do want to, which is why I created this thread.</p>
<p>If all you have is the sports thing as a Junior, that is what looks bad...if you have stuff you have been doing all through highschool, and just add something or change from say a club to a sport, why not? Part of high school is trying new things and seeing what fits. Colleges don't want stagnant people.</p>
<p>Why not add a sport? It will be good for you.</p>
<p>Thank you. I definately understand what you're saying. I'm involved in several activities already (i.e. Student Government official, volunteering, research, awards, etc) and, like you said, I want to try some new things.</p>
<p>It's not a matter of it looking bad. That is really ridiculous thinking. The only thing that is suspicious is when you don't do anything at all and suddenly add tons of filler EC's Jr or Sr year. Sports is always a good EC at anytime.</p>
<p>well, i'll try to offer another point of view... joining a sport for the purposes of college admissions isn't the best strategy to use. that is, you should have fun playing the sport, otherwise when you're practicing everyday and when you're competing, you're not going to have fun, even if the sport is a stress reliever. your afternoons are going to feel like a drag. aln bso, sports requires a lot of time and dedication, and if you're doing it for the sole purpose of college admissions, your time can be better spent doing well in your leadership positions to get better positions your senior year, or your time cae more effectively spent by joining other clubs or doing some more quality community service. </p>
<p>but in the end, will it look bad? probably not, especially if you make the varsity team. and if everything doesn't work out, as in you only join for one year during your junior year, then hey, who says you have to put that down on your college app? in fact, you can use your experience to try something new and turn it into a college essay.</p>
<p>I don't see anything wrong with joining a team in junior year. It shows you are willing to try something new. My niece got talked into going out for track this past spring as a junior. She previously had NO interest, but somehow she thought it might be fun to throw the javelin. She turned out to be good at it and had a great time and made lots of new friends. She gave no thought to how it would look on her college application- she just wanted to try it.</p>
<p>D didn't enjoy her first season on the varsity swim team (wet hair, did't "click" w/ other girls on the team, etc.), even though she loves swimming and won her events at regional meets. At my urging, she gave the team a second chance (second season), but she still wasn't having nearly as much fun as with her other sports. </p>
<p>Next year, as a junior, she will switch from swimming to ice hockey. She's unlikely to make the varsity squad (uber competitive boarding sch team), but since she has friends on both varsity and jv teams she'll have a good time, get a good work out and learn a new sport. </p>
<p>Staying w/ varsity swim might make a marginally better college app. Swithching to hockey will probably make a happier D. As the young people say, that's a no brainer.</p>
<p>Consistancy..... thats wat its all about</p>
<p>One of the best essays I read this year was by a young man who joined a sport junior year because he really wanted to do so. He did it despite parental and peer pressures. He was not that good at the sport, and though he became much better, is certainly not a college level player, but he enjoyed himself immensely and learned alot. He did get into several excellent schools that were reaches for him.</p>
<p>It's absolutely wrong to think they will look down upon you for taking up a new sport</p>
<p>If you join a bunch of useless clubs, that's a totally different story</p>
<p>If you are happy doing the sport, you will be happier all around and it will show in your other work and grades. A happy student is a good student.</p>
<p>Thanks for asking this question (and all of you for responding)! I'm in a similar position myself; I'm really interested in doing cross country and track next year, even though I'll be a junior. A sudden willingness came upon me this year to explore all I can in high school; why simply not do it because I didn't work at my full potential my first two years?</p>