Quitting Varsity Sport Senior year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi, I’m quite new to this website, but I’ve been thinking about this one question this entire month, and I’m not sure where else I can ask for advice :slight_smile: I’m also not quite sure about whether or not colleges come and watch our activity on the internet, so please bear with me as I describe my predicament in broader terms.

So basically, I’ve been in a varsity sport since last year just by default as there aren’t enough players. I joined to get PE credit, and I didn’t really mind it - I found it kind of relaxing, and it was fun being with my team mates (of course until games came along). I didn’t like playing games, but I still stuck it out for the credit. This year, I have an extremely difficult course load (well, at least it is to me) with IB diploma, and I know that other kids can make it fit, but I’m just really bad at time management. I still have to study for the SAT and apply to colleges, and to me, doing well academically is the most important thing, and I’m just not feeling like I’ve been doing my best lately. I dislike my sport more than I did last year because of the school stress, but I feel that I could stick it out if that meant getting into my dream college.

I don’t have a lot of EC’s - I’m in a volunteer club (joined for two, now three years) that meets every two weeks, I did a summer volunteer opportunity at a zoo this year, and I tutor students every once a week during the school year starting last year. I used to be in band during my past years of high school, however, due to it not fitting into my class schedule, I was not able to join again this year. I think that the varsity sport is a stronger EC, and that’s why I’m so nervous about quitting - I feel like I should give it my all to get into my dream college.

I’ve read if an important EC is dropped, others should be able to fill its place. However, I’m not sure what I would do with the extra time except for studying and possibly volunteering more, or maybe making a club of my own (if I had the courage to). But these wouldn’t show as much time commitment that the sport would.

I want to get into a competitive public state university with about a 45% acceptance rate. And possibly into its engineering college which I’ve heard is much more competitive.

Should I stick it out and stay? Or would varsity sports not matter very much to colleges if I quit?
Can you lovely people lend me some advice?

2

It doesn’t really sound like something worth hanging on to nor like something that will make a difference.

More for yourself than for college admissions, keep trying things that might excite you. You’re unlikely to find “that thing” without putting yourself out there a bit.

3

Totally, I would love to have more time trying to find something that makes me “click.” Thanks so much for your time and advice, I have gained some confidence! :slight_smile:

4

If possible, can anyone else provide me with more advice?

5

I think colleges would rather see you spend your time on something you’re truly interested in rather than just participating in. Free that time up and focus on finishing strong with your grades and digging deeper into things that are meaningful to you.

6

If you’re not recruitable, you can quit and invest the time into an activity you like more and can achieve more in.

7

Agree. The only other reason I can see to stick with it would be if you think you’d enjoy playing it in college.

8

I would think about why you tried what you did. Did you think that if your friends liked something, you would too? Did the coach make a great pitch? Had you tried it casually and thought it would be interesting to do more intensely? Thought it’d be a good way to meet people?

Then think about what you didnt like about it. Weren’t great at it? Too repetitious? Friends quit? Didn’t like teammates?

Put the answers together to see what you might want to try next. You may be better off following your interests rather than those of your friends. You may enjoy physical activities that are not competitive (hiking, climbing, etc.) Maybe what you do matters less than who you do it with. Really, learning these things about yourself will serve you well, now and in the future.

9

If it isn’t something you enjoy then it is fine to stop. Unless you are a recruited athlete (which doesn’t seem to be the case) then a varsity sport will be considered the same as any other EC. If there are other things you’d rather do then by all means go out and do them!

10

Fine to quit. Don’t need to replace when you have the right mix of experiences.

But you may want engineering and have no math or sci activities?

11

Thank you everyone for your amazing advice! I don’t really have anyone to look up to for college advice besides my busy (but always willing to be helpful) teachers and counselors, so I really appreciate it. I’ve decided to quit, and focus on things that are much more important to me :slight_smile:

12

I agree with others that if you want to quit the varsity sport then quit it. You can spend the extra time focusing on academics, college applications, sleep, or whatever else you want to do.

Just as one data point, one daughter had to quit her varsity sport due to an injury, but still got into her top choice school and a couple of other very strong schools. My other daughter had very few ECs and still got into every school she applied to. Academics (GPA and SAT) can still get you into very good schools even without sports.

13

I think the only reason to play a sport at any time is to enjoy it at THAT time. What are you getting out of it now? Are you enjoying it NOW?

14

Don’t you need athletics for the CAS part of the IB diploma?
Sports gives you exercise and team comradery.
It really is not that important if you are not going to play in college.
Also state universities take your grades/SAT into account mostly…look at the “Common Data Set” for your State U and see how much emphasis they place on ECs.

15

Soooo I’ve decided to stay with golf after all- after quitting for a few days, I strangely missed how much I liked improving myself and just helping out my team, and I’ve realized that it’s definitely just the stress and pressure of school that’s clouded my judgement. I have a plan now that I’m certain will work! Thanks everyone anyway for your thoughtful replies, and I will definitely try to balance my school and sports life more efficiently!! :slight_smile: