<p>There have been numerous threads about what to DO in terms of ECs. What about what NOT to do? </p>
<p>Should students participate in sports or activities that they're not particularly good at despite the small benefit their participation will bring? Assume that the students are talented in other activities and could spend more time on these activities in which they excel. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I thought about that, what would happen to my college app if I didn't have any sports on it, so I played tennis in 10th grade and wasn't quite terrible so I didn't bother going through with it for another year. So I think, at least speaking personally that it's not worth doing EC's that you have no interest in and that you should focus on the ones that you have a genuine interest in. Personally, I didn't do any music or theatre based EC as well as no sport [other than tennis] and I really had no problem saying this on my application b/c I felt comfortable enough to say this is me and I happy with what I do, and I managed pretty well on my apps so you really shouldn't do EC's that you have no true interest in b/c you'll just drain all of your energy on something that's a complete waste of time.</p>
<p>Soccer- I'm not bad, not great. The problem is it consumes all my time right when I need it most - college admissions time. I also compose music - that'd be my passion. I've received awards for what I've done musically. Does it make sense for me just to screw soccer and spend the time I would have been practicing soccer to work on music?</p>
<p>Sports are a big commitment. If you think your time could be better spent joining several clubs where you'd have more of an impact and possibly gain a leadership position or something, I'd suggest choosing that over sports. In other words, don't do a sport just for the sake of doing it. Many people I know ended up having to choose between sports and extracurriculars, since it's very hard to find time for both.</p>
<p>Well, that's more of a personal choice, but if it were me I probably would quite soccer and devote more time to music so that I had a better opportunity to create a stronger passion for it, but that's me and I also have the ability to look back at my decision in retrospect, so it's a bit easier for me to say that now then then.</p>
<p>colleges will know that you are doing soccer just to put it on your resume. also, on you app they ask you to describe your ECs. if you dont really metion soccer, why put it on your resume in the first place. also, colleges would rather you excel at a few core things than be all over the map in ECs. if music is your passion, why not apply to music schools where soccer wont make a difference?</p>
<p>My music performance friends that have graduated from graduate programs say they're really glad they got that liberal arts base + music in their undergraduate program (double major in something + music at a good university w/ good music program).</p>