<p>Does it look bad on college apps if you only played a varsity sport your freshman year? I was the number two singles player on my high school varsity tennis team but due to piano commitments I couldn't play my sophomore year because I was preparing with a professional orchestra as a piano soloist and I can't decide whether or not to play this year. When it comes to showing commitment, I have played piano for 13 (soon 14) years really seriously. Piano is a second life besides the academic world but I am unsure of whether or not discontinuing tennis will look bad or be undesirable for Ivy League admissions. Any and all thoughts would be appreciated! </p>
<p>It is what it is. We don’t have time to do everything. You played tennis, liked it (I assume) and if I were you I’d put it down. It’s a varsity letter, a rather big deal.</p>
<p>I am not an expert on anything to do with the Ivy schools but I think varsity sports round out the individual on paper. I think participation in a team sport is a positive on a resume. But I’m sure your high level of piano is also important. Can you do both and still maintain your level in piano and your grades? If so, and if you LIKE tennis, I would do it. </p>
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<li><p>The Ivy league is a sports conference, the schools within it vary in many factors, please start now in looking at schools for their individual qualities and forget about the labels.</p></li>
<li><p>How many applicants who are varsity athletes do you think colleges see? How many applicants with your level of professional piano experience do you think they see? Unless a candidate is a recruited athlete, participation in athletics is just like any other EC.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep doing what you enjoy and you’re on the right track.</p></li>
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<p>Stick with piano. Like entomom said, everyone does a sport nowadays, and the longer commitment to piano is way more important. Plus, schools could need pianists for a whole host of events, whereas they only need tennis players for playing tennis.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! @Mikemac It isn’t just about the label, I was simply referring to the ivies to reference the standard (or perceived standard) of schools that I am aiming for. </p>
<p>I think you should realize that you will most likely not go to an Ivy. The ability to play an instrument and being involved in sports is the most basic for many students who are accepted to an Ivy.</p>
<p>"The ability to play an instrument and being involved in sports is the most basic for many students who are accepted to an Ivy. " uh no. The most basic trait is academic excellence/potential and the ability to contribute to the campus community.</p>
<p>Continue with piano. As someone upthread said, Top 25 universities/LACs see thousands of varsity athlete applicants, but very few with that level of musical achievement.
However, start looking at very good schools for music that aren’t at that level, get to know those schools, and remember that colleges with selectivity below 20% are a crapshoot so that having safeties/matches you really like is your best bet. </p>
I don’t really have a side to this. I am an international piano player. I play for intl guild and i do some really selective intl competitions, so i understand where you come from. Like you, I got on the varsity tennis team my freshman year and played singles 2 and 3 for the season and got selected to play at the NorCal Elite SCVALs tournament. Music and tennis are both my passions, but I feel music would have a slight edge nowadays. What grade are you in? @pianomle PM me! I would really liked to talk to you and maybe ask for some advice from you as well:)
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