<p>If one does not play any sports but has a strong academic background and a considerable amount of time spent on volunteering and other ECs, does it lower their chances at a top college?</p>
<p>Also, the only "sport"(if you can call it that) that I do participate in is sailing. Would doing so be advantageous or useless?</p>
<p>Absolutely not. Do what you love.</p>
<p>If your only motivation to participate in sailing is to have a sports-related EC for college admissions purposes, I advise you to stay away from it and stick to what you've been doing. However, if you are curious about it and would like to give it a shot but are afraid that it might take the time you'd normally spend on your other ECs, I'd say "Go for it". High school years are all about discovering your passions.</p>
<p>My d is into music, not sports. I think the helpful thing about sports or music, is that they give you a "theme." For ex, my friends d plays lax & field hockey, and also volunteers at a children's lax clinic. My d plays several instruments - which means she's in orchestra, marching band, jazz band, pit (for the musical), church orchestra....</p>
<p>Most clubs don't give you that many EC hours, unless its something really intense like debate/forensics or robotics.</p>
<p>But you can only really be committed to things that you enjoy. If your clubs and community service are your passion, then it will show.</p>
<p>I'm definetely interested in sailing and I love it, but I feel as if it won't have as much weight with college admission as say, basketball or soccer. The problem is, I'm not much of an athlete and I do not have a strong background in any aspect of the arts. I would love to join a bunch of the clubs at my school that I am genuinely interested in, but they do not show as much commitment as a sport does. Also, I don't want it to seem like I joined 10 clubs just for college.</p>
<p>Right now I'm involved in Math Team, Ambassadors, and Mercy Action Club(our school's version of Amnesty International, although we also reach out to those in our state). I'm going to be starting sailing in a few weeks. I'm trying to figure out what I want to add to my resume for my sophmore year. By that time my volunteering will be underway(at a hospital), and I would like to add one more club. I'm not sure which to choose because all sound great. Right now I'm considering SADD, Habitat for Humanity, and Mock Trial. I'm also considering indoor track for next fall, but honestly the only reason is for college apps. I want to feel confident about my ECs, especially since I would like to be able to apply to and have a decent chance at schools like Yale, Brown, etc. I'm just scared that I'm not focused enough on one EC area and my ECs aren't strong enough.</p>
<p>Anymore advice for a paniced freshman?</p>