Sports: What exactly defines an "athlete" and other q's?

Applying to College
1

I play two sports for my HS. Overall, I’ve been very athletic (my uncle even won a gold medal in the olympics, but it’s my app, not his, I guess) but I do many other things than just sports.

Next year, as my schedule becomes more and more crowded, I am considering dropping one of the two sports (soccer>baseball). For context, most would rank me as top 3 in my grade in soccer, but about top 10 in baseball. I enjoy both, but I like soccer more, but to be honest, I really wouldn’t mind giving up baseball.

Given the aforementioned, I have a few questions regarding sports and college.

  1. Can it benefit me at all (for college) to play two sports, or should I stop playing baseball? In college, I can’t see myself playing both, although I would like to continue playing soccer for the rest of my life.

  2. How good does a person have to be in order for that to be a “hook”? If it is more than just being a regular varsity player at a competitive HS, I’d be happy to hear what makes athletics a draw.

  3. Do the top universities (ivies and the next half dozen or so) really care about athletic ability? Disregarding some specific examples, like Princeton’s lacrosse team, do any of them care about other sports?

  4. I’ve recently been really interested in looking into more…“alternative” sports, basically things not offered at our school (archery and the discus, in particular). I think I can potentially be very good at those things, and they are sports I like. Assuming colleges DO care about athletics, could it help me if I am good at a unique or individual sport?

  5. If a sport is indeed a draw or a hook, how much can it make up for other lacking areas (low gpa, low SAT, whatever the case may be)?

thanks to all who help out. I think a lot of people have similar questions, so it would be helpful to get them all in one post.

2

<p>They only care beyond that it's a nice EC, and it's only a hook, if you're recruited. Then it's the biggest hook bar giving millions. You can have significantly lower stats than the school's average.</p>

<p>Your coach should be able to tell you if you have a chance at being recruited. Most recruitable athletes at ivies (DIV !) are at least all state and star on travelling teams. At div III schools (top LACs) it's somewhat easier, but still not your average varsity athlete. By the time you're a junior in high school, you'll usually know if scounts are interested in you.</p>

3

<p>Isn't discus considered part of track and field, a relatively mainstream sport?</p>

4

<p>Discus is part of track in field, yes. </p>

<p>Remember, to not drop a sport and do a new one. Colleges like to see things you stick with. Example I will/am doing track, cross country, and ice hockey all 4 years. They would rather IMO see someone doing say football for, 4 years and excelling at it, rather then someone who joined cross country and say soccer in there junior year and/or senior year.</p>

5

<p><em>bump</em></p>

<p>thanks for the responses...keep them coming!</p>