<p>I agree with pacheight on this: student-athletes at highly selective schools have to continue to juggle difficult classes with practice and competition. Writing an excellent application essay sends the message that you understand this and can handle the academic challenge. Your job is to convince admissions that they are accepting an exceptional student who is also an athlete. </p>
<p>On the original question about sports as an essay topic, IMO a non-sports related topic sends a clear message about the student’s range of interests and ability to reflect on something not the sport. I’ve advised kids to go ahead and write "the sports essay"if they just can’t get it out of their head, but to try and write a second essay on something else. Often the second essay is the one that gets used on the application. The best thoughts from the sports essay can be used in the short essay about one of their activities.</p>