Laurin07

I'm going into my junior year this fall in a Philadelphia suburb high school. I've been in the competitive, physically demanding, and time consuming marching band for two years. My school has never offered volleyball as a school sport until this year. Because both are such big committments, it would be impossible for me to do both. I love being in the marching band, but I also love volleyball. I have seen the competition and feel fairly confident that I could be on the varsity team if I did volleyball. As much as I would hate to not do either one, I know that I would not be able to do both. My first choice for college is the Coast Guard Academy, and I am at the top of my class academically, so this could be the determining factor in my admittance. I know that they are looking for athletic people and that plays a big part in the acceptance process, but would 4 years of competition marching band or 2 years of marching band and 2 years of varsity volleyball look better on my application? I've sent an e-mail to the Academy asking for their input, but I have been waiting for a response for a few days now. Thanks for any input, I would love to hear your responses!

USMMA2009

go with the volleyball

Bill0510

Go with what you like.
The balance is something like this. . . outstanding academics and leadership can overcome a lack of athletics. If you are a recruited athlete, i.e. truly outstanding, that can overcome some academic deficiencies. Ordinary varsity athletics may not [will not] overcome academic deficiencies.
As I recall, in developing the Whole Candidate Score, academics/leadership represent a greater component of the score than do pure athletics. Leadership in the band can count; commitment and growth over four years counts; lots of things count.

Unless you WANT to do volleyball, I would vote for remaining committed to what you enjoy, being outstanding academically, and becoming a leader in whatever you do. [For perspective, my son is entering USNA this summer and NO organized sports on his resume.]

But, as I say everytime, my advice is worth what you paid for it.

Kwith

Well I am working on getting into Westpoint right now and also attend a Philadelphia suburb high school... we might even go to the same school! I haven't applied to an Academy yet but I have done an awful lot of research... I think they care that you are active, not so much what you are active in. But if one activity is going to carry more weight than the other, than go with volleyball. You have already been in the band, and it wouldn't be like you are giving up music forever.... If you play volleyball than you can put both activities on your application AND it will show that you are an athletic person. Volleyball will also be alot of fun. Hope this helps.

PS - send me a private message and let me know what school you go to, I've lived all over the area and odds are I've gone to it or know where it is.

And good luck!