<p>Almost all of my middle school and high school life, I've been in several online gaming communities (more known as clans). If you don't know what clans are, they are basically a group of players that play online games together. They can range from casual to very serious and competitive to the level of sports. They usually have an organized structure (mimicking military ranks and such). </p>
<p>I've been a subordinate to a prominent leader in clans. I don't remember the EXACT length of time I've participated in clan activities, but it is very immense and countless. I've dedicated a great majority of my time to these clans. These activities include leadership roles, participation in scrimmages (or competition), attending weekly practices, and recruiting members. I've bonded to these clans, as if they were family, even if I've never seen their faces in person. </p>
<p>The most prominent leadership position I had was in a community called Inertia Gaming Experience during last summer. I was the leader of a group of 30 members. Leading weekly practices, recruiting members, training subordinates for their future leadership positions, creating and adopting strategies to use in scrimmages, organizing scrimmages, creating a group spirit, and all sorts of things. It was a very rewarding experience and accomplishment that I would like to relive this summer. </p>
<p>What do you guys think? I do consider myself a hardcore gamer and would mentioning my dedication towards online gaming communities help my application?</p>
<p>I’m a gamer myself (played five years of dedicated Ragnarok online). I recently quit though, mostly because I’m too busy.</p>
<p>I really don’t know whether you should mention this. I don’t doubt your dedication or passion, but intensive gaming can be seen as a questionable EC.</p>
<p>Are you well-rounded otherwise? I might mention this as maybe an additional activity somewhere down your list. I don’t know whether you would want to primarily advertise yourself as a gamer.</p>
<p>hmmm… I don’t know, on the one hand I get that it is a big responsibility and that it does take some effort, on the other hand, its a video game, not really beneficial to anyone else, and it is a form of entertainment. I personally would shy away from mentioning that, if your are daring then maybe write your essay on how your leadership in game relates to your real life leadership skills or something, but even then, its a video game. So use it at your own risk, while in theory it sounds good, some people might see you as just a glorified video game addict, not a leader or competitor. Gaming as a sport is the butt of much ridicule in general, so for college admissions it would be difficult to pull off and make it look as worthy as president of an honor society, or a captain of a sports team.</p>
<p>For god’s sake, don’t put this on your app. I am an avid video gamer myself (I’m a 10/55 in Call of Duty 4… if you know what that means then you’ll know about how much time I’ve spent on an Xbox) and I firmly believe that video games are a waste of time. I suspect that most adcoms agree.</p>
<p>^Agreed. The issue is not whether you’ve devoted a large amount of time, effort, and responsibility–which you clearly have–but whether the activity is worthwhile to adcoms. It doesn’t really demonstrate that you will be able to meaningfully contribute to campus life.</p>
<p>You know what I would do (and did)? Take this probably controversial topic and write it as an essay for an early action school that would otherwise be a match. If you don’t get in, take it as a sign and don’t use it for any other schools. If you do, it can’t be that horrible and you can re use it.</p>
<p>Uh, no? Congratulations on spending countless hours playing a video game, but there is no way that adcoms are going to be over-joyed to read about this on your app. I recommend staying as far away from this on your app as you can.</p>
<p>This is a bad idea, but you probably already knew that. Telling colleges that you play video games at THAT level isn’t impressing anyone. It only emphasizes how time you spend in video games as opposed to actually doing something with your day. Video-games will not get you into college. Not unless you’re programming it.</p>
<p>Know your audience. If you are applying to a school I would hope you have done research on what they have to offer that interests you beyond the classroom. Your application is your chance to sell yourself to the adcoms. They will read hundreds of vanilla applications. Qualified, but boring, generic applications. Your job is to use that application to let them know how you can be an asset to their school. If that school in no way embraces gaming, leave it out. Chances are they will not find it refreshing. If you include it you are going to have to find a way to realistically (and sincerely) sell this without sounding like a kid why spent four years of high school playing video games. There is a fine line. You will have to find it to make it work.
Good luck and congratulations on that Master Chief thing ;)</p>
<p>I’m a high ranking member of a World of Warcraft guild, I’ve also been participating since the beginning of the guild and has lived through changing 4 guild masters, I’m the oldest guild member still constantly playing (quit recently as kinda part of my new year’s resolution btw). I really really wouldn’t put that onto Common App.</p>