Should I drop a sport to make room for another class?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi everyone,

I’m a newbie here on CC and had a was wondering about my class schedule for next semester.

I’m a junior now and have been in Track and Field since Freshman year. I’ve also been competing in Varsity since Sophomore year. However this year, my Osgood Schlatter’s (inflammation of the knee) has flared up and I was advised by my physician to stop sports if I want it to subside.

Now, my dilemma is whether or not I should actually quit track at the end of this semester (which is before season actually starts). Honestly, it doesn’t hurt me that much to run and I feel that I can easily tough it out for the rest of high school. I like track (not love it), and I wanted it to an extracurricular that I can show commitment to by staying in it all 4 years. (I don’t plan on continuing it in college though)

On the other hand, if I quit, I can add in a semester-long “comparative religions/philosophy” class to my schedule. The reason I would take this class is because I would have the same teacher I had sophomore year for AP European History. I know some colleges require rec letters from one humanities and one math/science teacher, and I currently don’t have a humanities teacher this year that I feel could write me a good letter. My European History teacher, however, really liked me last year so it would be great if I could have him again during junior year so that I can ask him for a letter.

Basically it all condenses down to this:

  1. Stay in track -> have a 4yr extracurricular that I enjoy and also look somewhat good on college apps
  2. Quit track -> heal knee + add “religion/philosophy class” -> potentially get a good rec letter from humanities teacher

Which pathway do you think would help me most regarding college admissions? Would colleges judge me for quitting track in the middle of junior year before spring season starts?

Thank you for taking the time to read through this. I would greatly appreciate any opinions/advice you can offer me. (Sorry if I posted this in the wrong CC forum section)

2

Get your head on straight. You are injured and the doctor told you to quit sports. It does not matter what colleges will think.

3

Thank you for your reply. I realize now that I do seem rather silly for putting college ahead of my health.

I probably should have specified that this advice to stop sports was given to me by an online physician who I don’t know. I have also previously been given physical exams by both my actual physician and by my school’s sports trainers who both told me that I did not need to quit but just needed rest and a reduced exercise intensity regimen. I’ve also been managing well with track in the past 4 months since school started, so I thought I could keep going.

This isn’t to say that I think your conclusion is invalid. I just wanted to clear any possible misconception of me as a college-obsessed student.

Sorry for wasting everyone’s time. I’ll put more thought and analysis into the extent of my injury and then make a more reasonable decision from there. Thank you again, @mathyone .

4

@Ecnunn Props to you for being mature. Whatever you end up doing, I hope you love it.

TBH, if I were you, I’d go with the religion/philosophy class. Just my take.

5

Will your injury make it difficult to compete at the same level and intensity as you could in previous years? If you couldn’t make varsity with your injury, it might look better on paper if you took the religion and philosophy class…

6

I will still be in varsity for sure; but judging from my practices so far this year, I may not make any improvement from last year in terms of performance.