How impressive are Varsity Sports?

Applying to College
1

<p>I am a sophomore this year, and currently on my HS varsity swim team. I have swam for many years and am one of the best short distance swimmers on the team. Since the team is not very competitive and there are allowed to be up to four captains, I am pretty sure I will able to be a varsity captain in my senior year. I currently also do a USA Swimming team which is SUPER difficult and competitive, and I am on the lower end of that team and am considering dropping the USA swim team.</p>

<p>I don’t think I’m good enough to be recruited or qualify for states for swimming. Thus, this spring I am planning to join track instead of doing usa swimming, and I think I may be able to make the track varsity team. Also, I am considering doing football next year when I am a junior. Our school’s football program is pretty terrible (1-10 record), but I think it will be A LOT more fun than track and swimming and I’ll probably either make varsity or get a lot of playing time. </p>

<p>However, next year I am also going to be SUPER busy with AP’s and other academic contests. Thus, I don’t think it’s worth it to do football unless it would look really good on a college app, since my other EC’s and possibly my grades would not be as good if I just didn’t do football in the fall. </p>

<p>So basically I’m wondering how impressive the following three sports would be in terms of college admissions to ivy league schools:</p>

<ol>
<li>Swimming (4 year varsity, Captain in Senior Year)</li>
<li>Outdoor Track (3 year varsity)</li>
<li>Football (JV Junior Year, Varsity Senior Year)</li>
</ol>

<p>Also, do colleges dislike you picking up a sport like football kind of late in your senior year?</p>

<p>And also would football be more impressive since I’m Asian? I’ve noticed most of the smart nerdy kids in my school tend to do sports like tennis, swimming or track(the track jv program is a joke), so would playing football as an Asian make me stand out more(I’m pretty fast and strong so I think I would be able to handle football)?</p>

2

<p>If you will not be recruited for your sport, it won’t make much difference at all in terms of college admissions. However, they are a great EC if you will enjoy yourself, have fun playing on a team, keep active and challenge yourself with something new.</p>

<p>I also happen to think that, as you say, taking up football to enjoy yourself, even late and “even as an Asian” and even though your team isn’t a powerhouse - I think that would be a neat essay topic. If an essay is supposed to give the reader a window into your personality, I think it might work really well. It won’t be “impressive” but it has the potential to show that you don’t “just do things to be impressive on college apps” which is something adcoms appreciate much more!</p>

3

<p>Definitely do not play football- colleges do not want people who are willing to take a risk, try new things, and push their limits. They only want applicants who have figured everything out by the age of 10 and commit to their plan without deviation.</p>

<p>Of course I am being facetious- if football sounds like an exciting challenge go for it! You should be doing things that interest you and it’s great that you are staying active. Have fun with it!</p>

4

<p>Varsity sports definitely looks better on your app but it doesn’t make big difference unless you are recruited for any sport</p>