<p>I played tennis as a kid and took up squash in college because it was easy to get courts in bad weather. Squash is about 3 times more exhausting than tennis. It is very fast. And very fun. Haven’t played in years though-- went back to Calif & back to tennis.</p>
<p>Try playing rackets - the precursor to squash. The 1st few times on court you wonder why you even bothered to buy a racket.</p>
<p>Of course, the old saying goes that if you own a racket you are nationally ranked.</p>
<p>We are a big squash family, and found that Times article quite funny. What the Times neglected to say that it’s a VERY unlikely hook for most kids who take up the sport for the sake of a hook. Top schools now recruit internationally - the great players come from Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan etc. – former English colonies that adopted this sport. Top ranked American players do get a shot at the elite schools – but only if they have the grades/stats. A couple years ago, the #1 junior, who now plays professionally, did not get into Princeton, Harvard or another Ivy – his grades – B/B+ and his respectable SATs – weren’t high enough.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Princeton or Harvard, but I do know kids at Penn, Brown, and Dartmouth whose applications (coming out of well-regarded private schools) could have been described that way – “B/B+ and . . . respectable SATs”. In some cases maybe a little better (B+/A- grades), in some cases maybe a little worse (1250 vs. 1400) in one or the other respect. </p>
<p>Of course, that doesn’t mean I think it’s an easy hook, just that it can be a hook for some US-based kids, including some who don’t have gaudy national rankings. As I said, however, my impression is that even a very top player may not be able to say “I want Princeton” and get his wish. The most recent example I’ve seen had to go where the coaches were offering a slot, not where the student might have chosen.</p>
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<p>That’s very true, and is something that I suspect is overlooked by the article. I know Princeton, for example, has recruited internationally every year, and at Trinity it’s even more pronounced. That said, further down the rankings it can be easier for top American players to gain admission.</p>
<p>Grades are a big issue, though. With so many of the top schools also being academically excellent, an aspiring squash player who wishes to play collegiate squash at a high level must have a good academic record. I know of a number of people who were shut out of the recruiting process as a result of their grades - and these are grades that are by no means bad in the grand scheme of things. Just not quite good enough for the top Ivies they wanted to go to.</p>
<p>Good to know that so many here have played squash… like edad said, it’s nice to have some discussion of a less-popular sport on here. ;)</p>
<p>I have a friend whose son just graduated from Harvard and had played squash there. He was a nationally ranked teenager but his mother was so defensive about his getting in. She kept saying, “yes, but he’s smart, too! He took all AP’s! It wasn’t just the squash!” I had to laugh.</p>