<p>My D is a very good athlete. Her sport is time-consuming (all year), and now that she's in high school, with a pretty tough academic schedule she has little time for anything else besides her team, her schoowork, and church. For one thing, all school-based clubs meet after classes at the same time as her sport. And every weekend she has a long track meet rather far from home which lasts all of Saturday or Sunday. Summer means continued training, though she could fit something else in then.</p>
<p>Up until now, she was participating in two school music groups. Now due to a sudden circumstance outside her control, she will no longer be able to play in the school concert and jazz bands which were her only other EC's besides x-c and track. Frankly, she's barely handling her academic schedule now and should be sleeping more, so adding a new EC is not really wise from the point of view of health, happiness, and time constraints. She's smart, but not a quick worker, and so not the kind of kid who can do it all. Also, as a top athlete, she does need more sleep than what she's getting. So, if it weren't for college looming ahead I'd advise her to just focus on what she has on her plate.</p>
<p>But, knowing how the admissions game is played, I feel a little panicked thinking that unless she squeezes something else in (like community service), there will be entire categories on her college applications which will be left blank. Also, w/o community service, she won't even be in National Honor Society--a pretty standard thing for a top student--nor will she be eligible for practically any scholarships. But, if she tries to add more, she could jeopardize her grades and athletic performance.</p>
<p>I guess my question is: Has anyone seen a good athlete get in a top school with no other EC's besides their sport?</p>
<p>Yes. Bunch of guys my son played football with in high school. They got into:
Harvard, UPenn, Notre Dame, Columbia, Princeton, Yale.<br>
Some of them were in NHS and other clubs, but some weren't. They all did 30 hours of CS per year, though, because 120 hours total are required to graduate from our high school.</p>
<p>BTW, a lot of students at our hs get the service hours in the summer. They'll go to a camp of something for one week and get all 30 hours. Or they'll do something like meals on wheels one day a week for the whole summer.</p>
<p>With respect, I would propose that the first question to address (perhaps you have already addressed it) is whether that allocation of time is what seems appropriate for her high school years--whether "entire categories" of personal development should be "left blank". </p>
<p>We struggled, and do now struggle, with that question too.</p>
<p>As a general rule, don't add an EC for a college app. </p>
<p>In your daughter's case, it seems you are really talking about the equivalent of a three sport athlete (XC, track, and I assume indoor track) The adcoms should be able to total up the hours and see that she has got a massive time commitment outside her academics.</p>
<p>An additional question - how good is she? Is she recruitable? In that case they will really understand :)</p>
<p>I assume she likes to run? If so, then she should speak to her 'passion' in her app. If not, adcoms might wonder why she is spending so much time on something she doesn't enjoy. </p>
<p>If she's got that kind commitment, enjoys what she is doing, and excels at it - she is fine.</p>
<p>I don't think everyone has to do lots of different activities. I think for most people, personal development takes a pretty wandering path - it's not something you can do by making sure you cover the categories (if only!). It may feel a little risky, but it can work well to just encourage kids to do what interests them.</p>
<p>Is it better to leave something blank than to fill in, well, anything? Cuz if she has the three sports then the common app has 7 spaces, so she can put:
1. sport
2. sport
3. sport
4. some type of community service
5. music group
6. music group
7. church work</p>
<p>if she doesn't do music anymore, but has nothing else to write, it really wouldn't hurt. I know my asian friend got into columbia with about 2 ECs.</p>
<p>My best friend's daughter is a very good hurdler. She does a little community service as well, because she wants to, but she also does soccer and she trains year round. She also is in the "good enough for top schools" category for her scores and the "very good for top schools" category for grades. I will be able to answer your question in more detail when she learns what her acceptances are this year:).</p>
<p>Uh . . . How about you ask your daughter how she WANTS to spend her time? Let her pursue what she honestly enjoys. If she does that, the rest will take care of itself. In my D1's case, she pulled back from her sport in order to focus more on several other ECs and do her absolute best academically. We got lots of warnings from the coach and well-meaning parents that this was a big mistake. Turned out to be the right decision for her. I wouldn't try to start filling in the common app spaces right now. If you do, the admissions offices are going to see through it - it's a cliche but true - the best course is to let them pursue their passion. If that's her sports, then do that. If she's doing sports to "get in" then I'd give the decision some serious thought. I think kids run into trouble when they try to follow a recipe.</p>
<p>D has done a variety of activities over the years (piano, singing, drama, basketball, soccer, art) which fit into various categories, but there comes a time when you have to make choices and specialize. In a big and competitive high school like ours, every major activity wants all of you and will be quick to leave you behind if you don't comply and play by the rules. I know it's not like that in other schools.</p>
<p>Colleges repeatedly say they are interested in students who show commitment and passion in one or a few areas, rather than kids who do a little bit of everything. If your daughter is happy, I wouldn't worry - although some Community Service stuff over the summer couldn't hurt. Maybe youth counselor at a local rec program or track day camp? </p>
<p>I'd be more concerned about her being happy and not "burning out." Does she miss music? Would she like to take one season off? (I doubt she could completely stop training but if she wasn't on a team she could cut back her running). If she loves track and doesn't miss the other activities, then ok.</p>
<p>Narcissa's post worries me. Do not have your daughter go through high school attempting to make her life fill in the blanks on the common app.</p>
<p>What I find hard to believe is how some of these kids fit everything in. I know even at age 13 my youngest is having to make some choices. And when high school rolls around next fall she will have to make more. There are only so many hours in the day. It seems like every activity seems to want so much out of them and very few are willing to let them skip anything. </p>
<p>Right now my D's main activity is riding. It can only be done in daylight hours. She puts in many hours at the barn 5 or 6 days a week. She also plays volleyball. Right now she is lucky her club has one evening practice a week so she just skips the barn one afternoon. But come 9th grade high school volleyball will require her to practice each afternoon. So she will have to make a choice. I already know it will be riding. Which probably looks like a rich kids sport on an application. Somehow she will have to find a way to add in that she works hard at the barn and by doing so is earning lessons.
All my kids have done community service. They have found it is fairly easy to do in the summer. Especially if they volunteer at a day camp or summer school. Those are usually half day and they can still do whatever else they have going. Also the camps are usually flexible since they aren't paying them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Narcissa's post worries me. Do not have your daughter go through high school attempting to make her life fill in the blanks on the common app.
[/quote]
Well, that's what I gathered from the OP's post that it was what the OP wanted.</p>
<p>Track & XC take up enourmous amounts of time -- much more than sports where you are always playing agianst one team on a field or in a gym. Admissions knows that the meets can go on all day on weekends and runners often arive home at midnight from meets on school days. As for community service, she'll have hundreds of options during the summer. An active, athletic girl might really enjoy camp couseling with handicapped kids, or a similar outdoor volunteer activity. If she can't participate in the large concerts, maybe she can get together to sing or play with a smaller ensemble? Singing or playing at nursing homes, for example? Fun for the kids & wonderful for the resdents.</p>
<p>Doubleplay already answered your question about top schools taking good athletes wihtout tons of ECs because they understand there are only 24 hours in the day. But I'd really hope she doesn't get shut out of NHS because of community service requirements not being met. Good luck!</p>
<p>My D enjoys music, but it is not a true passion for her. I guess I'm mostly upset because of what just transpired. The band scheduled auditions for the following year for one evening and one evening only. That night, unfortunately, was the same night as a major track meet over an hour away from the school. So, D told the coach she would not be able to attend the meet. The coach flipped out on her (yelling and ranting) and insisted that she talk to the band directors about an alternative audition time. The director reluctantly granted it, but having experienced this guy in the past I warned my D that if she didn't go at the real time she would be cut from the band. D knew she was the best at her instrument (first section, first chair, and soloist) and trusted that the director wouldn't have told her she could try out at a different time if he didn't mean it. Well, you guessed it. She got cut and they took a student who is much less skilled (3rd section). Her teammate, who also played since 4th grade and took private lessons like my D, was cut--in favor of a child who had just started playing this year! That's what I mean about wanting all of you and just ditching you if you don't play by the rules.</p>
<p>It concerns me that these activities are so consuming that it's hard to be balanced even if you want to. I worry about D putting all her eggs in one basket. What if she gets injured? What if she ends up not good enough to be recruited and has no other EC selling point?</p>
<p>PS I'm also extremely annoyed at D for once again thinking she knew best and ignoring my sage advice.</p>
<p>GFG- I think the important thing is that she does what she loves and she has fun doing it. I despise schools where a kid is forced to choose between sports & arts due to politics. Very sad to not be allowed to develop a well-rounded personality with the offerings at school.</p>
<p>Hopefully your D pursues her passion and that results in her finding the school that fits her; of course, if she wants Ivy, she needs to be that much more amazing in her passion, so pursuing your passion does not guarantee success at prestige admissions, but I see grade grubbers & EC grubbers being seen through in admissions, in many cases- it is the kids with true self-knowledge and the abilty to convey that experience who rise above the crowd.</p>
<p>If she pursues what she loves, no matter which school ends up being her choice, she ought to have a better chance for a satisfying experience for her.</p>
<p>Stop worrying and let your daughter follow her passions. That is what the admissions officers are looking for. Let her find another less time consuming outlet for her music interests since you say music is not her true passion. I would definately look for a summer community service opportunity that relates to track. Is there special olympics in your area?</p>
<p>I second the suggestion of finding a track-related service project. My kids umpired little league baseball games. It went along with their passions, utilized their gifts, and they enjoyed it.</p>
<p>I also second the disdain for the "all or nothing" attitude in today's high schools. I am a musician and my kids were/are athletes and musicians. The two go hand in hand. Why can't these people in our schools see that they are complimentary? If your daughter is interested, maybe she can have a little 'finger' in music by continuing piano lessons with an understanding teacher, so that she can pick it up again at a later date if she chooses.</p>
<p>My son kept his finger in music just a little during high school. He really didn't have time to do much with it, as far as the almighty resume. But he kept it up as best he could, mostly by practicing on his own with CDs for his own gratification. Now suddenly he's in college and he's in a blues band. It's one of his favorite (no, more like it IS his favorite) pasttimes. You never know when the bug is going to bite you!</p>
<p>My friend's D was a varsity invited walk on in a sport at a Pac 10 school, she had the potential for a scholarship after first year, but then was injured and after unsuccessful srugery out of the sport after one year. It was a good thing her high school encouraged well roundedness as she ended up very involved in campus sponsored singing groups for the remainder of her time there.</p>