Sorry if these questions are bad, I’m just curious:
If I get the required time to be a Division 1 athlete for an 800m race (1:58), do I automatically become a division 1 athlete?
Is this title/hook completely useless if I don’t plan on running at the school that I apply for, in terms of admissions?
Any thoughts appreciated
You are a division 1 athlete if you are actually a member of a team at a division 1 school. You must make and participate on a team to call yourself that. You can’t be a division 1 athlete while you are still in high school, though you may be a recruit if there are coaches trying to recruit you. If no coaches have spoken to you, you are not a recruit regardless of what time you may get.
You don’t automatically become a Division 1 athlete. The only way it will help on your admissions chances is if coaches are recruiting you. That is on the slow side for recruitment. You most likely get recruited or scholarships unless you can go 1:53ish for most decent D1 schools.
^ agree with this. 1:58 isn’t really D1 caliber. Still a worthy goal to train for though.
Like others have said, the distinction “Division 1 athlete” isn’t something like NMSF. Since you’ve obviously not been recruited previously – given your non-intent to compete at the collegiate level and your non-stellar performance – your HS track experience will be the same as tens of thousands of other HS athletes.
It will be one line on your application.
Thanks for the comments;
@T26E4 Would having a varsity sport on the college application serve of any use when applying to a business school? Does it contribute in any way?
Just another EC
Agree, unless you are a recruited athlete a varsity sport is considered as an EC.
@“Erin’s Dad” and @happy1
So are ECs almost worthless in admissions (such as Varsity Sport) if prospective major doesn’t have anything to do with it? Should I save the extra space for something else?
Not at all. A varsity sport, done for several years shows commitment and the ability to budget your time.
Most colleges value. ECs. They want to have students who are involved and engaged in things other than academics.
^ Most colleges don’t consider ECs. Competitive colleges do value ECs.
OP, I’m not sure what you mean. Do you have other ECs that you’ve dropped off the page to fit your sport?
@“Erin’s Dad” Yup, I’ve done 4 years of varsity cross country, but 2 years of a business related activity
But at least 6 other EC’s are business related (that are already listed); I’m not sure if I should write cross country or the other activity
Why is it an either/or? Why wouldn’t both activities be listed? I’d say 4 yrs commitment to a rigorous sport probably is much stronger than your membership in some business clubs
I would definitely include varsity track as it shows a commitment to a sport as well as a diversity of interest.