What should I do?

rubio1996

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I was cast in my school's spring drama production. Also, I wrote a play and performed a different play for my school's drama festival, which had to be written, performed, practiced, and directed within 24 hours of receiving the topic for the play. I did not participate in my school's athletic program in my freshman year, as I was focusing on my academics during the transition from a small Catholic middle school to a rigorous college preparatory school. I plan on playing three sports in my sophomore year (Cross Country/Wrestling, Swimming, or Basketball/Lacrosse). However, by playing sports in my sophomore year, I would not be able to participate in my school's fall or spring drama productions. I would still be able to participate in the annual drama festival, though. My options are the following (for the sports, assume that I have no experience in any of them and for the drama productions, assume the fall and spring productions are equal and that I will still be participating in the drama festival):

- Participate in the Fall and Spring Drama Productions, Play a Winter Sport (Wrestling, Swimming, or Basketball)

- Participate in the Fall Drama Production, Play a Winter Sport (Wrestling or Basketball) and a Spring Sport (Lacrosse)

- Participate in the Spring Drama Production, Play a Fall Sport (Cross Country) and a Winter Sport (Wrestling, Swimming, or Basketball)

- Do Not Participate in the Drama Productions, Play a Fall Sport (Cross Country), a Winter Sport (Wrestling, Swimming, or Basketball), and a Spring Sport (Lacrosse)

Assuming I do everything else right (academically, extracurricular activities, etc.), out of these four options, which one would look better for nomination and admission to the U.S. Military Academy?
 
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Also, for the Winter Sport, can someone please help me decide between Wrestling, Swimming, and Basketball? Which would the Academy rather see excellence in? The only one I've had experience on a team would be Basketball (but it was only for my Catholic middle school, and I wasn't very good).
 
Which of these do you enjoy most? That's what I would choose. It's great that you are preparing yourself early for West Point by gathering information. I think the actual sport doesn't matter as much as how dedicated you are to it. Pick a sport and stick with it and try to work your way up to team captain, that would look great! Don't forget the other aspects as well like making sure your grades stay high and you do well on the SAT/ACT. Also, strive for the leadership positions in whatever sport or activity you are involved with.

In my case I jumped sports all through school; I tried track, wrestling, water polo, bowling and swimming. In the end I found that I enjoyed swimming the most but I only lettered my senior year. I enlisted and found that even though I only swam that one year it set me apart from other prior service candidates. I say this to make a point, every candidate that USMA looks at is unique.

Hope that helps! Blessings!
 
Just my two cents as a mom (and that's probably what it's worth!)
If you really don't care which sport, ask around about the teams. The teams will surely have different "personalities" depending on the coach, the participants, the traditions. If possible, join a team you already have a few friends on and avoid any team with a bad reputation for getting into trouble or participants that seem unhappy.

Also, agree that one sport you are committed to is best...meaning maybe you put some effort into it on the off-season as well. Swimming (the only one I have experience in) is definitely like this. If you choose swimming, you can improve by leaps and bounds if you swim year around rather than just during the HS season.
 
P.S.
You obviously love drama and are committed to it. Therefore do NOT give up this area of strength for the sake of multiple sports you have never played! Definitely try to add a sport, but it also sounds like you have leadership potential in the drama area. As you move forward in this arena, think about what you are doing from a leadership perspective - the directing, the putting the show together, are there competitions?, etc.
 
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Assuming I do everything else right (academically, extracurricular activities, etc.), out of these four options, which one would look better for nomination and admission to the U.S. Military Academy?

While athletic participation is great, remember West Point is looking for leadership potential. Playing on multiple sports teams is not as important as being a leader on a sports team (Varsity Letter, Team Captain). Now, earning letters on multiple teams is even better but not if you do not do any other extracurricular activities. West Point wants to see leadership success across the full spectrum of extracurricular activities (Sports, Clubs, Student Government, Civic, Scouts, etc).
 
Looking back, I'll probably play a Fall Sport (Cross Country) and a Winter Sport (Basketball or Wrestling). I'll participate in the Spring Drama Production and the School Drama Festival, as I did this year. Although Basketball is the only sport I have team experience in, the only problem is that I am not nearly as good as the varsity, or even some of the junior varsity, basketball players, and therefore, I would probably not be given any leadership roles, such as captain or co-captain. Wrestling is a much smaller team, so there would be a better chance for me to become captain/co-captain. Can someone please help me decide which one would be a better fit for me?
 
Can someone please help me decide which one would be a better fit for me?

No we can't because we are not you nor do we personally know you. I would follow Stealth's advice for the problems that you are having.
 
You can't go wrong with cross country for starters, as the Army likes to run for some reason haha

As for the winter sport, just choose what you would enjoy for potentially three years. Luv2swim also makes an excellent point on off-season training. I absolutely love swimming and still do it today (well not today, there's no pool here). Had I started younger I would have done better than many of my fellow swimmers for the fact that I personally enjoy it enough to train off-season and do not see it as a burden. Athletically you can't beat cross country/swimming combination it is amazing conditioning especially for this organization and believe it or not there are many soldiers who do not know how to swim or swim well. Having a background in swimming will assist you if you want to go down the routes of SF or Ranger.

Oh look a bird... Sorry I deviated from the main question! If you want to be a team captain go for it! Ask the coach what has gotten prior athletes to that position and I guarantee it isn't all skill, it's how you coach, mentor and motivate your teammates. Ask your fellow teammates what they look for in a captain. All the tools lay before you, go out there, do some recon and intel gathering and make your decision from there. Bottom-line: If you are enjoying what you do, you will be more likely to keep doing it and strive for improvement, and if you are doing that you open the door to aid and assist others that come behind you. It's a win win situation, you have fun and you prepare yourself for the day you start your application to USMA.
 
Oh look a bird... Sorry I deviated from the main question! If you want to be a team captain go for it! Ask the coach what has gotten prior athletes to that position and I guarantee it isn't all skill, it's how you coach, mentor and motivate your teammates. Ask your fellow teammates what they look for in a captain. All the tools lay before you, go out there, do some recon and intel gathering and make your decision from there. Bottom-line: If you are enjoying what you do, you will be more likely to keep doing it and strive for improvement, and if you are doing that you open the door to aid and assist others that come behind you. It's a win win situation, you have fun and you prepare yourself for the day you start your application to USMA.

I asked my coach for a recommendation letter concerning leadership skills/personality traits and whatnot. Turned out to be really good (much better than I expected). I am not sure how my Admissions Officer will look at it, but he said that, since I am not a Team Captain, they might be able to give me a few points on the WCS (Whole Candidate Score) for such a (leadership) recommendation in sports (since 10% of your WCS derives from Leadership in Sports).
 
Okay. So, I have narrowed it down to two options:

- Participate in the Fall and Spring Drama Productions, Play a Winter Sport (Wrestling)

- Participate in the Spring Drama Production, Play a Fall Sport (Cross Country) and a Winter Sport (Wrestling)

Between these two, can someone please help me make a decision?
 
rubio1996, what attracts you to the service academies? Are you interested in a military career? I hope you don't mind my asking this.

Just a "mom" reminder....sports and extracurriculars are wonderful, however, academics must always come first. I'm a little concerned with your drama/sports plans since I read your first couple of posts that mentioned your grades. Time management is going to be critical here.
 
Will you be getting varsity letters on those sports?

Also, which one gives you the opportunity to achieve a leadership position? This is PARAMOUNT.
 
Definitely try to add a sport, but it also sounds like you have leadership potential in the drama area.

Some consistent feedback from admissions, congressional staffers & malo's:
  • It's better to be deep in one item than shallow in several
  • Leadership in your EC's is key, and would trump a EC without leadership experience
  • Your EC's ideally would demonstrate balance.... if you do not have any sport EC's with varsity you'll want to demonstrate that you are athletically capable. This means strong CFA performance, etc.
  • Varsity in one sport beats several without
 
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