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Having a high gpa isn’t typically something that high achieving students are ashamed of. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I have to agree with MomofWildChild. There are several EC’s that require time, teamwork and dedication. My D’s high school does not have a marching band. We have bright kids not only in music but in all EC’s. XC kids at D’s high school are the kids going to the top tier colleges.</p>
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<p>There is a rite of passage that goes with your first all-nighter in the school on a school night. My son’s EC is very much like this.</p>
<p>Between daily band classes (2 for my son during his senior year), required weekly practices, games (practice time and the game), marching competitions (practice time and competitions), the after school symphonic orchestra, and weekly private lessons…we figured that DS spent a minimum of 30 hours per week during football season. And that doesn’t include the time he would spend during his free periods going into the lower level band class to help the trumpets with performance pieces or stand tunes.</p>
<p>Was it all worth it? You bet! DS officially became a member of the Penn State Blue Band today!!! He is one happy trumpet player!</p>
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Congrats to your S! That’s terrific.</p>
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<p>Woo Hoo! Now the REAL fun starts…for you as a parent. The thrill of seeing your kid playing in front of 80,000 people at a college football game is totally awesome! Plan to go to as many games as you can, and the ones you don’t go to, watch on TV and see if you can spot him. Great sport!</p>
<p>^^ Cheers to your son Grcxx3! Obviously the time he spent was towards an activity he truly enjoyed…as it should be. :)</p>
<p>For one of my kids, her main EC, not only started in preschool but became her college major, her career, her life! It happens!</p>
<p>My son found his EC when he failed his physical for freshman football. He’d played since he was 7. He was crushed. Looking for something else (and with major prodding), he gave it a try. He found a new world, his world, that he couldn’t get enough of. The classic story of one door closing and another opening. I believe his choice of major would have been the same. His high school experience would not have been as rich, and his opportunities so great without the time invested in his EC.</p>
<p>Beyond honing skills of the musicians, dancers, math wiz kids, science olympiads, and debate pros, these demanding activities offer our students so much more. I think colleges know this. They learn early how to manage their time, work in groups, work with professors to get needed help often before school because their time is spoken for after school. They are often more mature, polished, young adults that are serious about their education. They are the students that are going to be active members of their college community…all in their own ways, but all adding to an involved student body.</p>
<p>Ultimate EC? Probably not… but we firmly believe it was the kicker to our D’s admittance into UF</p>
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<p>Well said!</p>
<p>Football, Marching Band, Orchestra and Theater Arts etc. all teach teamwork. Students learn to value being part of something big. They learn to have confidence in themselves, which helps them to take the leap into adulthood. And they get to feel the exciting glow of putting on a great show for the audience. They make life long friends, and more importantly, life long memories of the experience.</p>
<p>A very interesting read. Who knew?
Based on the experience with our HS I consider MB to be a weak student’s activity.</p>