odd and underrepresented sports & EC's

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>do you think it's an advantage to be very good at yoga or horseback riding or something relatively rare? even if the school doesn't have a horseback riding team (and definitely not a yoga team lol), do you think it would count as "athletic points" in admissions? i have been riding for 11 years and have won many blue ribbons. it's a passion of mine and i'm devoted to it. i love it. do you think they would count this as a bonus (for instance, as they would if you've been playing tennis for 7 years and have won 2 competitions)? also, yoga is an important hobby of mine. i practice it 8 hours a week and i think it would be some sort of an advantage because for kids our age, that's pretty rare and it's an exotic activity (well, not really anymore).. i also practice tai chi (spiritual, meditative exercise that's not common.. origin in ancient china) and ju jutsu (ancient form of martial arts originating in ancient japan, non-striking techniques, emphaises using pliancy as a weapon against opponents during wrestling, like a snake wraps itslef around its prey). that latter two i'm less experienced with (but it shows i try something new, right?) i'm not asian, i'm white.. and a female, so that makes it pretty rare. i guess if i were asian it wouldn't count as much because they're asian sports.</p>

<p>i also ballroom dance, sail, surf, fence.. and i play a lot of sports recreationally, but i'm pretty good but not on any high school team (i do independent study..).. and i've played for a while and i'm above avereage in all but was never the shining star or MVP of the team and doubt i could ever be recruited for college or something.
basketball (was recruited for travling team in 4th grade), softball, swimming, track, xcountry, soccer. i've been playing all of those since elementry school (i'm in 10th now).. do you think it counts, even though i'm not on a high school team right now? if i could, i would join the teams at boarding school because i love sports (but i'm not sure i'm good enough)..worth mentioning? or does it look like too mcuh?</p>

<p>and i was a competitive (as in, not ra-ra crap. we did weight lifting and flips and complex stunts) cheerleader on the 2nd best team in the world and went to nationals twice. count for rarity points? i don't plan on joing the pep squad or w/e but it was something i was very good at and devoted to.</p>

<p>also, what about when a team isn't so formidable at that shcool? do you think that they would be more apt to choose someone who has experience with that sport, as opposed to another sport that they have a lot of qualified applicants for?</p>

2

<p>I would definitely mention as much as you are passionate about. If you were on teams for those sports you mentioned, then I would mark them down, but just saying you played probably won't make a difference. You could write something in the short answers where they ask you why you want to go there and mention something about wanted to get the experiance of the athletic teams that you have had interest in since such-and-such when you started playing. I think that the odd interests are good, and make you stand out as an interesting person, even if they aren't athletics that the school has.</p>

3

<p>Blairt, I think you'll find that neither riding or yoga are unusual among Andover students. Riding is a very popular sport among affluent girls and you will find an abundance of accomplished riders at prep schools. Yoga is popular too.</p>

<p>Have you visited or talked to Andover students? To differentiate yourself it's important to understand norms at the schools. </p>

<p>To answer your SSAT thread, your score is great. 11th grade is very difficult to get admitted to though, harder than 9th or 10th, so the SSAT is just one hurdle, one you've made it over. Your grades, recs, essays, talents, campus impact...will be equally important. Probably the most important element will be luck. Does the class NEED something you offer? Does the hockey team need a goalie, band need an oboe player, debate team need some stars? For 11th grade and after they are filling in the gaps.</p>

<p>I would apply to more than one school. Once you've completed one application the effort is no big deal. While I love Andover with all my heart, helping my brother go through his application process has made me remember how many truly wonderful schools are out there.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>