Should I do swimming?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Okay this is a stupid question, but I'm wondering if I should do swimming for the remainder of my high school career. I'm a junior and Asian. I'm trying to maximize my chances for HYPSM.</p>

<p>My friend (who is team captain) said I will be varsity and will easily letter if I joined the swim team, but I don't know if it's worth it. Here are my other projected ECs:</p>

<p>4 Years Future Business Leaders of America (treasurer, president next year, a lot of awards, 3rd in the nation for my event)</p>

<p>4 Years Math Team (going to nationals this summer, leadership position next year, some math awards)</p>

<p>2 Years Technology Student Association (co-founder, President for this year and next, lots of volunteering, hopefully win some competitions this year)</p>

<p>3 Years Science Olympiad (going to try to win some events, hopefully leadership position next year)</p>

<p>3 Years Hospital Volunteer/Intership (Critical Care Services, lots of hours)</p>

<p>4 Years Track (Junior Varsity :(, sorry but I'm not black)</p>

<p>Will adding varsity swimming increase my chances? Are my ECs okay or just plain boring?</p>

<p>I'm not trying to join swim team just to polish up my resume, I really want to swim (or learn how to swim, for the matter :)), but I don't know if its worth my time.</p>

<p>Any questions or comments are welcome!</p>

2

<p>You want to LEARN how to swin? On VARSITY?</p>

<p>hmmmmmmm</p>

3

<p>Haha, I know its crazy, but its worth a try. I'm a competitive person.</p>

<p>I want colleges to know that I'm a very well-rounded person, but doing swimming will take a considerable amount of my time. But then again, how many Asian math/science geeks to you know even doing a sport?</p>

4

<p>If you can't even swim yet and will be on the varsity team, that says plenty about the level of rigor of your team. Which basically means it's worth diddly squat. You're better off learning how to dig graves, because that's certainly what you're doing now.</p>

5

<p>colleges don't necessarily want well rounded kids</p>

6

<p>Well, do something artish. You already have sports down. Crafts or something. If you want to learn how to swim, you don't need a class, just go to a pool on the weekends with friends.</p>

7

<p>Anyway, I agree with coolphreak over there, they want focus. <em>shrug</em></p>

8

<p>Join the swim team only if you want to do it, not just because it looks good on the application. Swimming takes a lot of time and energy, so be prepared to have your academics get a little harder in the process.</p>

9

<p>Well colleges don't necessarily want math geeks either. Top colleges either want well-rounded or well-lopsided students. It's harder being well-lopsided because you will need to do something really amazing in your area of expertise.</p>

<p>BTW, I do know how to swim, kinda...maybe...It's complicated.</p>

<p>This might not be a good idea after all...but then again I'm crazy. :)</p>

10

<p>hey, this is a similar question. is it better to do a sport that u know isn't very popular at the college you're applying to, or is it better to do a sport that is extremely popular at the college? i mean, is there such a thing as a sort of "back-door" sport?</p>

11

<p>I kind of have the same question. I know how to swim, and I've been swimming summer league for 9+ years. I am a freshman now, and I was thinking about joining the swim team. I kind of like it, but I'm not really that committed to it or even into it that much. There are a bunch of kids I want to become closer with on the team, and I wanted to experience the whole "team spirit." I also thought it would be good to have a sport--I do crew, but it's not considered an actual sport at my school. What would your recommendation be?</p>

12

<p>I can't believe I'm reading this...Pathetic.</p>

13

<p>Okay, I guess my sarcasm didn't work before. (Keyboards really need a sarcasm key)</p>

<p>THIS IS A DUMB IDEA. DO SOMETHING ELSE.</p>

14

<p>If it's your first time, don't. It's not easy as ppl think. I laugh at the people who say one doesn't sweat when he or she swims. :)</p>

15

<p>The fact you're asking this question here means you do want to polish up your resume.</p>

<p>And I know plenty of Asian math/science geeks that accelerate very well at varsity sports.</p>