Hi
I’m interested in applying ED in another year to CAS for economics or PPE. I don’t play a sport other than having a black belt and actively participating in karate. The most music I play is the piano for fun. I also DJ with turntables at parties. I have a job with a music promoting company that works with big artists. I also am writing an economics research paper with a professor, am going to states (hopefully nationals) for FBLA, and am getting an internship with a congressman. Do I need a serious sport or music, or are other activities fine? PS, I have lots of service
I think I may be the most apt to answer your question, considering that I asked a set of questions very similar to yours at an ECO presentation (Penn/Harvard/Stanford/Duke/Georgetown) and the answers were the same for all five.
They weigh karate as on par with all other varsity sports (I too have a good rank in my system, so this was question was important to me), but, obviously there is no recruitment for such. However, karate, due to being somewhat different than most other sports can make for a good essay/discussion topic (I went for the essay route).
I really only see music as evidence of your well-roundedness (not docking you for that, my other major EC was jazz/orchestra), so I guess its weight depends on how you quantify your commitment to it. Out of curiosity, however, if you’re already taking a job with a music company, is your focus purely on academic economic research, or on going into business? (You would want them to avoid thinking that you’re merely seeking CAS as a backdoor to Wharton, and if you wish to go into business, Wharton might make more sense.)
You don’t need a ‘serious’ sport or music (what does that mean, exactly?), and provided that you illustrate that you have passions that prove you a person beyond the classroom, you should do just fine. (This is assuming that you have the necessary qualifications, and such.)
Thanks so much! I think your advice on karate is great. Also, not backdoring Wharton. Might get a JD/MBA, but economics is the route I plan to take to start. Thanks again.