I am applying to top ivies, in my freshman and sophomore year i used to be somewhat of an avid gamer and won a decent amount of tournaments for a PC game. I was wondering if that would serve as a detriment rather than a benefit to my application given I have VERY strong extracurriculars.
Why would that be a detriment?
It wouldn’t matter either way. It’s not a positive or a negative. Lots of kids play games so it’s no shocker.
Agree, it won’t move the needle on your application one way or the other. But if it is an activity that you dropped after 10th grade, it would be something you could easily cut if you have more recent/ meaningful activities.
Are you talking something like achieving Call of Duty Prestige Level 10/Prestige Master, or actual competitive arena tournaments where you are sponsored with expenses paid by the companies to compete? Either way, it sounds like your other ECs have value, and this might just be filler? Wouldn’t be a detriment, and it could show another side of you…but may just be filler…depends.
Also depends on what your interests are and if you want gaming to be part of it. UPenn and Cornell have video game design minors and courses in game animation and development in their engineering or computer science departments, as well as graduate studies, If so, they’d probably see your gaming accomplishments as a plus.
Hardly a top Ivy, but Maryville in St. Louis actually offers a scholarship of up to $2000 for competitive video gaming.
No other choice than test yourself, i think)