<p>Do you necessarily need to play a sport to get into one of these schools? or do they just look at sports as just another EC?</p>
<p>No, you certainly don’t! 
Some kids get accepted for their academic excellency, some for being amazing musicians, others for their great artistic skills and some, simply because they are very willing to learn and have passions that make them different from others.</p>
<p>True enough… But be prepared for a sports requirement for at least one season. The good news is that this will give you you chance to try something new, whether it be squash, rowing or wrestling etc., and get in great shape.</p>
<p>Woods Patrol!:)</p>
<p>I have the same question
I’ll be at mx in the fall. anyone have any suggestions for sports? I am supremely non-athletic</p>
<p>While there is some live discussion in this thread, let me ask some lame question: How hard is it to get into a varsity team? For schools with PGs, is it even possible that you are part of the varsity team of any sport before junior year? And, just in case you get into a varsity team, how time-consuming and intense are the training and games? Is it still possible for you to seriously attend other EC’s?</p>
<p>The things I’m going to say are true about Exeter, and I’m not sure if it is the same for the other schools.</p>
<p>It is fairly hard to get into a varsity team from what I know, because some of the students are recruited for sports. Anything is possible You can be in the varsity team even if you’re still a freshman. For Exeter, sports are not too consuming. Everyone is required to either play a sport or take phys. ed., so if you play a sport, instead of a block of p.e., you will have a block of training. I think that for the majority of the New England boarding schools, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons are usually game days, that’s why they only have half days. Whether you can take 5 ECs really depends on how much work and stress you can handle.
I hope I was able to answer your questions!</p>
<p>Asian kid - not sure if I agree with you.</p>
<p>I know quite a few preps and lowers who qualified for varsity sports (Hockey, tennis, swimming, wrestling). Talent earns a spot on Varsity - there are no quotas. To say sports at Exeter are not too consuming is not true. Again, if all you are doing is prep spaz, then it is very minimal. Once you get into JV or Varsity, it is a completely different story. Certain sports also take an enormous commitment - hockey for one. And not just winter term, either - hockey training (on and off ice) starts when the ice goes in. Add in away game travel time and it and you are looking a lot of hours. Most kids at that level would not have it any other way.</p>
<p>Also, bear in mind Dance counts as a sports credit. Taking part in a theatre production also uses the afternoon ‘sports block’ - the only difference is that from 1:30-2pm (M,T,Th, & F) you must take part in DramaSports to satisfy the phys ed requirement.</p>
<p>Oh, thank you for that. I’m not really athletic so I never took the time to learn about these things. haha. My knowledge is very minimal and now I know more.</p>
<p>At my son’s school it is uncommon for freshmen and sophomores to make varsity teams, but not impossible or unheard of. I don’t think they really make it via a tryout…the coaches pretty much know in advance by way of information the athlete sends in during the admissions process who will be on varsity. In a sense, they do recruit for varsity spots. As far as time commitment…games are generally twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) and practices are the other days (or those days too if for some reason there is no game). Practices are about two hours long for most sports. My son currently does just one other EC, but he also plays one of sports at the club level year round which also takes a big chunk of time. </p>
<p>So, yes, you should be able to do a varsity sport or two (my son does two…would do three, but doesn’t because of the club sport commitment), and still fit in another EC.</p>