Would having a varsity sport make a large impact on my admissions?
I'm a junior in high school aiming to attend a top 10 university and I'm trying to figure out whether I should take on the extra time commitment of doing varsity track.
For context: I should have around a 3.9 GPA unweighted and 4.8 weighted by the time I graduate. From my practice tests I'm looking at a 750 math SAT and around 800 for reading (1550), but I don't take the SAT again until May. My extracurriculars have been extensive thus far. I will list them below.
I founded and chair a committee for equity in my county that works extensively with the central office administrators and county board of education.
I started an organization for children in hospitals with my friends and I serve as vice president.
I founded a step team at my school and serve as captain.
I also have an appointed position on my school's SGA.
My other extracurriculars include being president of BSU, membership in class board, African affairs club, NHS, delta scholars, and JV track for two years so far. Outside of school I have a fellowship with a congressman (that will take me to Israel next year), and I will also have had about 4 internships by the time I apply to college. There is overlap, but to give a summary of the first 3: 2 are unpaid, 1 w/ a leadership position, 1 paid. I have no details from the 4th yet since its through my school and I don't learn about it till summer.
I'm sorry this was so long, but I gave all that information to show what my application looks like and ask whether it would be worth it to do varsity track this year. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it enough to stress myself out ‘just cuz’. My schedule is looking really daunting. I am willing to do it if it could be important for my application. However, if it would have a forgettable impact or even a negative impact (by making me look unfocused) I would be fine with skipping it this year. Any advice would be so helpful! I'm also open to questions about my extracurriculars, time management, etc. from anyone who needs help.
THIS IS NOT A CHANCE-ME QUESTION, I ALREADY USED COLLEGE VINE'S CHANCING CALCULATOR :)
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If varsity track will make your schedule way too full and you way more stressed than you already are, I would say just skip it. It looks like you will have a really good SAT score and GPA, so that will definitely work in your favor when applying for university. Also since you already have so many extracurriculars, it might seem like you are not focused on the really important ones if you also do varsity track. Overall, I'd say if you don't love track enough to do it 'just cuz' then just don't do it this year and focus more of you time and energy on the things that are more important to you:)
(I did track in middle school and was going to do it in high school as well, but I decided not to because I involved myself in so many other jobs, sports, and extracurriculars that were more important to me than track.)
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For more context: I go to a public medium sized school in a competitive state. Also, the reason I say i'm a bit stressed is bc I have 3 ap exams & classes to study for in addition to the SAT and my extracurriculars.