<p>@woami- I would just like to say that sports usually require mental and physical prowess to be any good. Even if an athlete doesn't achieve highly in the classroom they have to be very mentally tough and strategic while participating in sports.</p>
<p>yeah swimming/track/xcountry are so strategic</p>
<p>what u guys think about chess? Cos i put a lot of time in chess and am one of the best in my state (tons of awards) won money too. I also coach little kids too. Its like my main ec but its something that i really care about and put in a lot of time. Does this go into the same domain as vid games?</p>
<p>I would say no. Chess requires more intellect and adapting than video games, and also you're coaching it to kids. I myself and impressed by that EC, but I can't speak for adcomms.</p>
<p>meh I put down Starcraft on the app, and also wrote about it in the Common Application Short Essay part. Hopefully the adcoms will understand the dedication and just what it takes to play the game on a national level. I included some experiences as a player on the national team, playing tournaments, and etc. But I mean, videogame should obviously not be the main part of the application. Grades, test scores, other ECs all need to be there. In the end, I think it's perfectly fine to put it down.</p>
<p>Swimming, track and xcountry all take mental focus and determination, while team sports tend to involve more strategy. All involve great physical stamina, which I think should and is respected in the admissions process.</p>
<p>I think there is a case to be made for competitive gaming as a productive activity (or at least no less productive than physical sports). There is still a very strong social stigma attached to gaming, though, so I personally wouldn't risk mentioning it on college applications unless I had good reason to do so.</p>