<p>I have no real affinity for sports, and the two i do (fencing and basketball) are really only for recreation. is not playing a competitive sport likely to kill an application?</p>
<p>Not at all. Are you artistic? Musical?</p>
<p>While many prep school like a "hooked" applicant, they also want an applicant who will become an active member of their community. Look over all the options open to you, and then consider how you plan to participate -- be it in recreational fencing, dance, model UN or whatever. Be sure that you let them know how you plan to get involved. Evidence of involvement from past experience is important.</p>
<p>Burb Parent is right...and far more succinct than I could ever hope to be.</p>
<p>Not that this is the "right" way to go (as I know little else about you), but you may want to look at larger schools as they can accommodate students without having them be wired into the sports offerings (or afford to have kids who are exclusively on thirds teams). Smaller schools that are tied into leagues have a "need" for athletes in those sports.</p>
<p>I'm not the athletic type either, though the middle school i'm in now requires sports.The fact that you do fence and play basketball (even rec) is good. Highschools have other things you can sign up to fulfill your sports requirement. Drama, community service and many more im sure (this of course depends on the school). if your not intrested in any of these, see if there are recreational or 3rds teams you might be able to go out for. This way, you're not expected to be super athletic, but it is a chance to meet new people, get some exercise and learn a thing or two. What's most important is that you're not afraid to try new things, for better or worse!</p>
<p>Of course it's not a problem. I suggest during your application and interviews you make it clear for your passion in one area vs being "to well rounded". As boo x replied on a separate board...
"Admissions Officers know that it's impossible for a kid to excel on every single one of the activities listed on their pages of ECs. There becomes a point where a person can be a little too well rounded."</p>
<p>Although this might be the case, I suggest playing up your interest on starting more sports "just for recreation" as you put it. During an interview it would be nice to say...
"No, I dont current play any sports because I'm so involved in ____ but after looking at your viewbook I'm so excited to try <strong><em>, _</em></strong><em>, and _</em>__! It looks like alot of fun."</p>
<p>I was a high school and college athlete myself so I'm not trying to knock sports but here's my take - it's easy to have sports as an EC. It's generally organized for you by adults, you show up, you do what you're told, you go home. A few kids will take it very seriously and will practice on their own and in the off-season but that's a minority. Athletics are great but I'm even more impressed with a kid who is (or also is) doing something that takes personal initiative - even if that is an obsession with Eastern philosophy or organizing a Dungeons and Dragons game each week. (Do kids still do that?)</p>
<p>It is true that at smaller schools you're going to be encouraged to play sports but those schools usually also acknowledge that there will be some kids out for the camaraderie and exercise who won't be fierce competitors. (For instance, my school requires some sports participation but we have a no-cut policy for our teams and your sports requirement can be fulfilled with dance, aerobics, or strength and conditioning electives.)</p>
<p>That said, having a coach campaigning for a student can definitely help you stay on the admissions "radar screen." There isn't usually someone doing that for the go players.</p>
<p>is not playing a competitive sport likely to kill an application?</p>
<p>There will be applicants who do not have a competitive sport. You do need to show how you will contribute to the bs community - Do you dance? Play an instrument? Act? Lead a club? What contribution to the commuinity can you show to prospective schools?</p>
<p>it won't hold you back as an applicant, but remember that sports used to be an absolutely essential part of the prep school experience. read that book about the deerfield headmaster (i forget what it's called, john mcphee i think wrote it): every kid had to play a sport every semester. i think a little bit of that mentality still persists today.</p>
<p>good thing is there are a lot of sports that require little or no experience, or have no cuts.</p>
<p>you do rec sports, which is really good and fencing is definitely different. so as long as you have a few other ec's going for you you should be okay. :)</p>
<p>A lot of schools still require a sport, or to be involved in theatre/music each term.
There is a lot of research that shows how beneficial organized activities are - especially sports - for brain development, and grades. That said, pretty much every school we have looked at either lets you do a non-sports activitiy instead (although some allow it for only 1 of the 3 terms) and most offer rec/intermural sports as an option as well.</p>