<p>I am a Junior in high school and have a 3.85 GPA without taking any APs yet. For this year, I have 3 APs lined up with Psych, Calc BC, and Government, but I am also on the cross country team. I realize ECs are important somewhat in admissions decisions but how much would it hurt if I were to quit the team. Recently, our coaching staff has quit and we have a totally new coaching change along with a new system and philosophy brought in... and it's all centered around individualism which I despise. Any suggestions as to what I should do? Maybe I should quit if my heart's not up to it, but should I pick up another EC if I truly feel up to it? How would student tutoring or giving time in to the community look?</p>
<p>If you really hate the new system and stuff (and I’m a cross country runner too, so I think that having a team centered around ‘individualism’ is absolutely RIDICULOUS) then you should quit. If you can, find another sport that you love to do - maybe track? A bunch of XCers run the mile and 2-mile in the spring, so you would still be able to keep up running.
I would explain in the college app the reason you quit XC, so it doesn’t seem like something you flaked out on. Adcoms will understand why you stopped doing it; it’s a perfectly legitimate reason.
Volunteering/tutoring are great, find a cause that you’re truly interested in and spend some quality time there (not just a few hours and then quit). That’ll show colleges your dedication and that you can persevere in something.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Unless you’re likely to be captain junior or senior year, it shouldn’t be too big of a loss. Use the extra time to become really involved with another activity.</p>