Advice from Ivy Coach re not listing sports on college application

[Anonymous]

I was disappointed to read this article from Ivy Coach that says that if your child is not going to be a recruited athlete, your child should not include their sports on the common app. I see the argument that it's not going to help my DC to stand out from the application pool and therefore, DC needs to focus on other ECs, but to say that an activity that takes up over 15 hours a week of DC's time each week (my DC plays on two school varsity teams, but isn't good enough to be a recruited athlete) seems like bad advice to me. I've heard this from other college counselors too, but I am not going to have DC quit sports - exercise is good for physical health and mental health and has enabled my otherwise quiet DC to become friends with lots of terrific kids from DC's school.

https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/playing-sports-college-applications/

Does anyone here think that DC should actually leave two varsity sports teams off DC's college application? I have otherwise appreciated Ivy Coach's articles but now I'm really questioning their judgment and thinking it's bad advice.

[Anonymous]

15 hours a week for how many weeks a year?

[Anonymous]

I think if your kid has 10 other activities that are compelling and time-consuming, this may make sense, but otherwise I would list the sport.

I understand the rationale for having one's kid focus on other activities rather than sports, but once the kid has made the decision to invest time in sports versus other activities, there's no harm in listing it on the application, and it at least gives an indication of how the kid spends their time.

[Anonymous]

Heck no. They are idiots for saying so. There are many reasons to do sports unrelated to being recruited to play in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heck no. They are idiots for saying so. There are many reasons to do sports unrelated to being recruited to play in college.

+ 1. Sports demonstrates being able to operate on a team, discipline/purpose/organization skills (especially if coupled with good grades), leadership if they rise to Captain, and the ability to deal with adversity when losing. That along with the physical benefits makes sports great for life holistically, not just in college apps. It would be one thing if you kid was doing it for a college advantage but if they really love it and played the sports their whole life it would be a huge negative to take it away.

[Anonymous]

Research Ivy Coach before you make any judgments about their proclamations.

Research Bev and what she charges, and the claims they make.

Note that this proclamation of hers got them mentioned in this thread, and I am sure, many other places.

Don't help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was disappointed to read this article from Ivy Coach that says that if your child is not going to be a recruited athlete, your child should not include their sports on the common app. I see the argument that it's not going to help my DC to stand out from the application pool and therefore, DC needs to focus on other ECs, but to say that an activity that takes up over 15 hours a week of DC's time each week (my DC plays on two school varsity teams, but isn't good enough to be a recruited athlete) seems like bad advice to me. I've heard this from other college counselors too, but I am not going to have DC quit sports - exercise is good for physical health and mental health and has enabled my otherwise quiet DC to become friends with lots of terrific kids from DC's school.

https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/playing-sports-college-applications/

Does anyone here think that DC should actually leave two varsity sports teams off DC's college application? I have otherwise appreciated Ivy Coach's articles but now I'm really questioning their judgment and thinking it's bad advice.

terrible advice.

[Anonymous]

I don't know Ivy Coach, but unless it's a very tiny college, a very small percentage of the student body will be recruited athletes. And if your kid is spending 20 hrs a week on a sport, it's part of their profile as an applicant.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what Ivy Coach is, but if it's free advice on the internet, then you should probably just ignore it. I bet this person does this then turns around and tells their paying clients to include it, in some odd scheme to box out a little competition.

[Anonymous]

It’s true…it’s not an important EC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15 hours a week for how many weeks a year?

OP: one is a fall sport, the other is spring. Each one is about 10-12 weeks, with playoffs. But one of the sports requires DC to pretty much train year-round with a club team (at least 3-4 times a week, even in the summer and on breaks) to stay in the physical condition to compete at even the high school varsity level. I was not and am not an athlete so this was all eye-opening to me as well.

[Anonymous]

The better thing is to have your kid volunteer teaching their sport to xyz under resourced group and form a summer clinic /camp/business for their sport where they show initiative and other skills.

The sports stuff is sadly a dime a dozen. Make your kid stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Research Ivy Coach before you make any judgments about their proclamations.

Research Bev and what she charges, and the claims they make.

Note that this proclamation of hers got them mentioned in this thread, and I am sure, many other places.

Don't help.

I'm intrigued by this response. What do they charge and what claims do they make? What insight do you have on them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The better thing is to have your kid volunteer teaching their sport to xyz under resourced group and form a summer clinic /camp/business for their sport where they show initiative and other skills.

The sports stuff is sadly a dime a dozen. Make your kid stand out.

Yes. And volunteer with special Olympics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Research Ivy Coach before you make any judgments about their proclamations.

Research Bev and what she charges, and the claims they make.

Note that this proclamation of hers got them mentioned in this thread, and I am sure, many other places.

Don't help.

I'm intrigued by this response. What do they charge and what claims do they make? What insight do you have on them?

I'm the PP and you will have to google it because I am not going to post it for various reasons. Sorry. I often demand people back up their claims as well but this time I will be a hypocrite.