<p>Are they important? Reccomended? I'm asking because my schedule is TOO PACKED right now and I need to cut SOMETHING. I have class, volunteering, some student govt thing, and tennis. I'm thinking I should cut tennis because I wanna save my grades.</p>
<p>Are you just playing intramurally or actually for your school at the Division 1 level?</p>
<p>If you're just playing intramurally or even if you are at the club sport level, it's really, really, really not important and I wouldn't even put it on the Post-Secondary Experiences list. If you are playing independently but competitively (entering amatuer tournaments at the local and regional level and such) then I'd continue doing so only if you are winning or placing well, and it's not too much of a time commitment. </p>
<p>If you are an actual scholarship athlete or just walked on to your college tennis team, then I believe that you should continue to do so. At least at my university the athletes had a ton of academic resources available to them so they could compete but maintain their grades. Plus the ability to put things like Big 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll (since you go to Northwestern) is a nice thing to have. One of my good friends who I knew from undergrad and now goes to med school in Kansas ran track at our college and got to put that he had been on the Commissioner's Honor Roll, as well as the Conference All-Academic First Team, on his AMCAS app and it's a nice recognition to have.</p>
<p>Thanks Bigredmed. I was just playing intramurally...so I will drop it I guess. Is there anything else that I should nkow about that isn't "worth it" in terms of Post-Secondary Experiences?</p>
<p>Anything that you think isn't a worthwhile experience. </p>
<p>Personally, simple club memberships that you didn't hold a leadership position in are questionable, unless you got a lot out of it, or it lead to some great experience. For example the pre-med club at my school was a waste of my time, and I stopped going pretty early on in freshman year. Even if I had kept going to meetings, I wouldn't have put it on list. That's not to say that everything has to have a meaningful existance on your PSE. I was selected to the national Sociology honorary Alpha Kappa Delta and even skipped the initiation banquet, but still put it on my PSE b/c it was an honorary. But I think the difference between the two examples is pretty clear.</p>
<p>Basically, if it's not something you would brag about to someone you were trying to impress than I don't think you should put it on the post-secondary experiences.</p>
<p>competitive club sports could be worthwhile to put down. something thats time demanding</p>
<p>hmmm.. i need advice on the same dillemma. next semester, i'll be taking 18 units at my california community college. (Gen. Chem, Gen. Bio, English, Math), my problem is, i really want to take swimming but i'm afraid it's going to affect my studies.. i really want to do it though, i've been swimming all through out high school and middle school. (and water polo). do you advice me taking swimming?</p>
<p>If you love it and you can balance academics while saving time for swimming, then I'd say go for it. I did it last year while taking CalcI , Sophomroe level Bio class, Astronomy, and third semester German (first semester, and Multivariable Calc, Gen ChemI, a very hard Gov course, and Music. I foudn that I didn't quite manage my time efficiently, but that doesn't mean I didn't have time-- if I had managed properly, I could have done much better in my classes second semester (first semester went very well)-- and the swim team was well worth it.</p>
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If you love it and you can balance academics while saving time for _____, then I'd say go for it.
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<p>Absolutely. Do not make your life only about premed. If you love swimming, tennis, or whatever, pleae don't drop it. Think about the time commitment, prioritize your activities, but hold on to the things you love. </p>
<p>Premed, and med school, are stressful, and the relaxation that you get from favorite activities is valuable. These sports are also good for your health. True, admissions committees will not be as impressed with intramural sports as D1, based on the assumption that you have much more control over your time in the former, but your life is not only about getting into medical school.</p>
<p>ahhhh. so i will take swimming..that's 20 unis! lol. anyway, wish me luck!</p>
<p>Use the swimming to your advantage - if you like it that much - utilize it as an R&R type of class - good for the mental health :) - and not a drudge class - enjoyyyyyyy</p>