Sports vs. Music

<p>Hi,
I am having trouble picking between sports and music, and I don't think I will be able to handle both.
I am definitely better at music,and I have been involved in it for basically all my life,
but would colleges prefer well rounded students (keep doing music & do sports for fun) or shoudl I stick with music and do as much as I can in that area?</p>

<p>I would stick to music unless you really want to do sports. If you are good at sports, you can get recruited, but colleges can tell if you don't like doing the activities you try to do. Passion is definitely needed to get accepted into college.</p>

<p>Colleges are interested in putting together a WELL ROUNDED CLASS made up of a diverse group of individually talented individuals. If you are great at music and not nearly as good at sports, then concentrate on that which you are good at, have commited yourself to and can write about with passion. Stick with your music!</p>

<p>You don't specify if you intend to pursue either a sport or a music discipline in college, either for recreation or a potential career.</p>

<p>To answer your basic question, do what you enjoy most.</p>

<p>If you intend to pursue one or the other in college as a serious course of study, the time committment to perfect, maintain and hone skills in either often makes high level pursuit of both simultaneously often mutually exclusive.</p>

<p>It the passion question, which is it for you. Sounds like music. Be really good at something, not mediocre in several.</p>

<p>I am definitely not going to major in music or sports.
Although, I am thinking about having music as a second major,
or having it as a minor.
I have no intention of continuing sports after high school.</p>

<p>I don't plan to major in music, but I've ran three seasons of varsity track/xc every year in HS as well as playing jazz in groups in and out of school. I'm glad I continued with both and I hope to keep running and playing jazz in college and beyond.</p>

<p>"I am thinking about having music as a second major,
or having it as a minor.I have no intention of continuing sports after high school." OK, you have just stated what you have more interest in-music. Focus on that-[ In addition, depending on what college you get into and the strength of the music program there, you may have to audition to be able to do a minor or major in music. So to me, it makes more sense to continue to develop your musical skills so you could qualify for a second major or minor in music if you decide to do that.]</p>

<p>Thank you, menloparkmom.
I have decided to discontinue participation in sports next year,
and I will try to focus as much as possible on my music.
Thank you to everyone that replied, and I will always appreciate additional advice. :)</p>

<p>If you are very good[ advanced level] then make plans to have CD's of your playing recorded by the Fall of your Sr year to send to colleges.</p>

<p>I think you should continue to whatever you enjoy doing. If you genuinely enjoy doing sports and being part of a team, then I think it's something you should continue for at least one season a year. I personally have found athletics to be a very rewarding experience.</p>

<p>ait415- To expand on menloparkmom's comments regarding music, if you choose to major or minor in music, begin your research into schools/programs as early as possible. Learn and investigate major/minor availabilities, program and audition requirements and be aware of the restrictions that may be placed on non majors at some high level programs. </p>

<p>There will be programs to suit your needs, but trying to find the right academics coupled with the right music program can be daunting.</p>

<p>You may want to peruse some of the posts in CC's music major forum for potential schools to consider.</p>

<p>Agree with menloparkmom; I believe the bulk of my acceptances were
largely due to material sent in with arts supplement form.</p>

<p>Do not neglect sports/athletics though..have something you do for fun
like Ultimate/5Ks/ or something...sound mind in a sound body etc...</p>

<p>When it comes to extra-curricular activities, you should do what you really like to do. Pick the activities you would pick regardless of how you think somebody on some admissions committee somewhere willl think about it.</p>

<p>You only get to go to high school once. Live your own life - not the life you imagine somebody on some admissions committee somewhere thinks you should live.</p>

<p>That doesn't mean you should avoid every class you don't like. But extra-curricular activities are what you do in your free time. You really should be guided by what you enjoy doing.</p>

<p>Thank you everybody :)
your responses really help a lot.
I have to admit, that even though, sports probably count for more credit
(actually, it's something I heard from other people, is it really true? )
I would be much happier doing music.
Music is something I can't live without,
whereas sports, I'm not very experienced or good at it, and it has been a major stress factor for me this year.</p>

<p>"sports probably count for more credit
(actually, it's something I heard from other people, is it really true? "
It TOTALLY depends on the college IMHO. My son, who was born with 2 left feet [ is not an athlete, played BBall his freshman year then did PE to meet the graduation requirement] but who is very smart, a talented pianist, and someone who decided to research obscure classical composers for his own pleasure, was not accepted at Stanford, despite having stats higher than most of the students from his school who WERE accepted [they all were good students and played sports too]. Stanford LOVES scholar athletes- which does not describe him. However, he was accepted at Brown, Dartmouth, Chicago, Wash U, Pomona, Vanderbilt, Carleton and 6 other top 50 colleges, and is attendng USC on a full tuition merit scholarship.</p>