<p>“But…many athletics related majors are academic and many athletes are excellent students as well.”</p>
<p>And many are not, and I think that’s just fine. (No matter where one is in school, precisely 25% of the class is in the bottom quarter, and, usually, most of 'em ain’t athletes.) The only place I’ve ever seen the cult of the “scholar-athlete” is on CC.</p>
<p>First of all, I will repeat as I think I already posted this, that I looked up athletics at my D’s school and it lists many support services for students. I was simply saying that the school has such support services in place, for all students, from what I could tell. Second, there are no advance registration privileges for athletes. I would not expect any. I don’t see my daughter’s intense schedule of required practices as all that different than those students at her school who put in countless hours in theater or the daily newspaper. (last year, for example, D told me she’d be up at 5:30 to eat breakfast before having to make the 6 AM van and her suitemate would be just getting home from all night editing the school daily paper). I am fully satisfied not only with the athletic support and all the services at the university but the entire place has been an extraordinary experience for my kid. </p>
<p>Mammall…I cannot speak for anyone else but I will say that sports are NOT sacred to me. I do not feel one bit different about my child’s involvement in sports as I do about my child’s involvement in theater. Both are lifelong passions in which they derive soooo much. They are huge commitments but they have lived their lives even prior to college committed to endeavors beyond their academics. </p>
<p>Also, my kid who is an athlete is not an athlete for her CAREER (though nothing wrong with athletes who make a career of it!). For her, academics come first and she is a top student. But she has extracurricular passions and interests and always has. Her sports do not substitute for her devotion to academic pursuits. She is an undergraduate group leader for her department, a freshman advisor, a TA, and studied abroad in her major. My other daughter’s schedule (she is also in college) is insane and she is booked all day, all night and all weekend (even more than my college athlete kid). Her extracurricular passion involves huge time commitments. She is in theater. In HER case, her EC passion also became her major and her life’s work. That is not the case of my athlete. Again, sports are not sacred to us at all. However, I feel that my kids’ lifelong extracurricular interests have enriched their lives. I am sure my child will greatly miss her competitive career as an athlete (she competed in three sports). She is a senior in college and her competition days are almost over. Her sports aren’t over, however. </p>
<p>Mammall, we have no sports mania in our family. But I can say as parents, we have been happy that our kids have had lifelong passions and then as parents, we have enjoyed countless days watching them enjoy their passions. They are MORE than just strong students. Sports is not number one but it certainly has been important in their lives, along with other ECs. My child who is a college athlete was heavily immersed in the performing arts throughout her life as well. On the one hand, some are being critical of “sports mania” and I guess I am questioning what is wrong with being devoted to a sport as well as being devoted to one’s academic career? One can do BOTH. </p>
<p>Mini, it is true that many athletes are not good students but many are. The stereotype that many of us are defending against is the notion that athletes are not also good students or put sports first. And that simply is not true of all athletes. I could sub other things for athletes…such as those in the performing arts. Some think those kids are not necessarily great students either. Some aren’t. But many are top students but have chosen a college and a career in the arts.</p>
<p>“And many are not, and I think that’s just fine. (No matter where one is in school, precisely 25% of the class is in the bottom quarter, and, usually, most of 'em ain’t athletes.) The only place I’ve ever seen the cult of the “scholar-athlete” is on CC”</p>
<p>Like the old riddle:
What do you call the medical student who graduates last in his or her class?</p>
<p>Doctor</p>
<p>i love mini</p>