Video Games on College Application - Page 3

trakwrecka · 01-02-2009, 08:52 PM

Video games debase your character, and make you seem immature. College adcoms like to see that you have a level of maturity, and by listing video games you're suggesting the opposite.

lolcats4 · 01-02-2009, 09:17 PM

Some of the responses in this thread suggest that people aren't very informed about video games.

I can refer you to a book from the *Harvard Business Press* called "Got Game." Amazon.com: Got Game: How the Gamer Generation Is Reshaping Business Forever: John C. Beck, Mitchell Wade: Books
Basically, it says that gamers are more equipped to deal with the business world. There are many such books out there.

I personally think video games are VERY risky. But to dismiss them out of hand is nonsensical. Someone who has excellent test scores, grades, OTHER ECs, etc, could easily use gaming. 18 hours a day though, sounds pretty excessive though, and I can't really defend that lol

Modadunn · 01-02-2009, 09:26 PM

I think there is a wide difference between simply playing video games (regardless of whether you play online or not) and being more involved. My son PLAYS video games. It becomes a mindless activity after a long practice or as a break before or after homework. I feel he is fairly responsible in how much time he gives the activity (and 18 hours just seems like an addiction and not an activity). Still, I would probably recommend he not write about it for college. BUT.. that would be him and I stand by my assertion that done properly and in a healthy context, I think writing about the subject might add something to an entire picture of a kid. What I think is somewhat important to remember is that adcoms are used to reading what kids have to say and they do not exist in a vacuum and certainly understand the draw of video games to kids today.

But here's something to consider, there is a difference between being involved in your community of school and home as a captain of a team vs being involved in a virtual world AT THE EXPENSE OF THESE OTHER RELATIONSHIPS. That is why context and constraint would be important.

GiggitusMaximus · 01-02-2009, 09:29 PM

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1.- Hours of practice (Sometimeas up to 18 hours a day(Breaks Of course!))

That's hours of time wasted playing games rather than getting out and influencing the community, which what colleges want to see.

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2.- Leadership (Talking about Strategy over VOIP)

Those stratagies only work for the game, I don't see how they could help someone in real life.

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-- He says that there is more leadership in games than there are in sports since in sports its hard to communicate over the whole field...

You can use assigned hand signals and crap to tell your teammates what to do.

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-- He also says since you are shouting, and " therefore there is no way, you can lead without letting the other side know what you are doing."

You can do the hand signals like I just said, or you can assign code words for plays.

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3.- Teamwork (Accommodate for not only your own actions but your teams actions)

No argument here.

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4.- Strategic thinking (Ways to counter an attack, Plan an attack)
-- Discussions before a game on what each person should do, etc...

That's alright, but it's a GAME! It's very good to have that skill in the real world, but it's useless if you're applying it to a game

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5.- Must follow team training schedule (Competitive Online Gaming Of cource!)
-- Supposedly 1 person missing = no practice?

At this age, people should definitely be taking games a helluva lot less seriously.

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6.- Game is ever so slightly updating (New strategies or Game Updates)
-- Must think of ways to adapt

I think that that is a bit of a stretch lol

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7.- Time management (Manage between school, games, eating, etc...)

This just proves that the guy takes gaming WAAAAAAAY to seriously

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-- Have to schedules your schedule to the team's schedule.

I don't think colleges would be too impressed if he's running his friends' lives and they're running his.

Also, how do you, or colleges, know that this guy is applying those things effectively from a professional stand point? And what makes him think that adcoms will take him seriously?

neethus1 · 01-02-2009, 09:33 PM

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I think it is PERFECT to add as a supplemental answer -- even as the primary essay on the common app if done well.

Very true. Given the execution is good too, it'd be a quirky and interesting essay to say the least.

woami · 01-02-2009, 11:06 PM

Gaming has been given a bad rep due to its relative young age. Given a few years for the population to get used to the idea of video games as an EC, I would venture to guess that video games will indeed be an acceptable part of the college application.

Think about it. Besides the fact that one requires physical finesse and the other requires mental finesse, what is the difference between sports and video games?

@GiggitusMaximus: I don't see how sports are anymore useful than videogames are. How do sports benefit the community? The only advantage of sports is that sports are more widely accepted and thus have a wider audience.

GiggitusMaximus · 01-02-2009, 11:13 PM

Well in terms of college admissions, sports seem to be better received than video games. In terms of the world outside of admissions, I couldn't care less about sports. I have actually never witnessed an entire football game. So I agree with you about the uselessness of sports (other than a fun means of staying in shape).

lolcats4 · 01-02-2009, 11:38 PM

What do people think about video game DESIGN as an EC?

neethus1 · 01-03-2009, 11:26 AM

It's widely accepted that you'd have to be incredibly smart to design a video game, so heck, why not?

And while you may have to be very smart to play one, that isn't as widely known OR accepted.

TarHeelBound · 01-03-2009, 02:02 PM

I'm going to write to schools that I am a Prestige 10 in Call of Duty 4 and already a Prestige 5 in Call of Duty:World at War. For those that do not know, that takes awhile to earn and dedication.

blondeisbetter · 01-03-2009, 02:10 PM

@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.

lolcats4 · 01-03-2009, 02:21 PM

yeah swimming/track/xcountry are so strategic

Trickstylez · 01-03-2009, 02:52 PM

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?

GiggitusMaximus · 01-03-2009, 03:10 PM

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.

MrPrez · 01-03-2009, 05:25 PM

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.