How Participating in Sports Can Boost Your College Application

Sporty!

Getting into a good college or university in the US does not only require exceptional academic
knowledge. Aside from grades and test scores, admissions officers are now looking at how versatile and accomplished students are in terms of extracurricular activities, such as athletics and community
service.

An active participation in a particular kind of sports can help you boost your college application.
Whether you are a member of your high school’s basketball varsity team or a top player in your school’s tennis tournament, playing a school sport takes dedication and hard work – two qualities that college admissions counselors like to see in their applicants.

Sports are also a good way to develop a well‐rounded character out of an individual. They help establish skills that are based on teamwork and camaraderie. They also teach students how to set goals early on in their life and persevere through hardships that they may face along the way. If you are wondering which sports can actually give you a shot at getting in to the college that you like, here are some ideas that may help.

Tennis. While you don’t necessarily have to develop the skills of Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova,
being a good tennis player gives you a higher premium than many other sports. The sport teaches you a good sense of motivation, concentration, competitiveness, and even problem solving – all of which can be very useful when dealing with academic requirements.

Golf. Although golf is a popular sport, it takes a really talented athlete to perform outstandingly in this sport. This is why college admissions officers are always interested to learn more about an applicant who is into golf. In spite of its limited physical movements (compared to other high‐impact sports), golf helps the player develop a lot of mental skills such as awareness and concentration, balance, emotional control, self‐confidence, and decision‐making skill.

Squash. Interestingly, Ivy League and top liberal arts schools are allotting admissions spots for athletes whom they can recruit from the pool of squash players. Why squash? Simply because not everybody can play it or afford it; it’s as if a more upscale product that top colleges and universities in the US want to get a hold of.

Baseball and Basketball. Baseball and basketball are the two most popular sports in the US, so popular that almost all, if not all, colleges and universities in the country have their own baseball and basketball teams to support. This is why admissions committee gets interested with students who play baseball or basketball, wanting to know how these sports enthusiasts can be a good fit not only to the athletic requirements of the school, but to the academic challenges, as well

While exceptional athletic ability can be a great deal in the college admissions process, it will mean
little without the academic strength to back it up. Thus, make sure that you are the well‐rounded student that colleges look for – an academic achiever and an outstanding athlete in one.