What should I do?

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. Air Force Academy?

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).

Well, I'm not an expert. But I would suggest Basketball since it's the only real "team" sport of the three.

I'm not going to go through your list, because it's not "My life". It's yours. Only you can make the decision about what you want. I will tell you a couple of things.

1. high school athletics, preferably team sports, is very important to the academies.
2. Don't do a sport because you think you're "Filling a square" for your application. The academy can see right through that. Plus, you won't be happy.
3. It's "QUALITY", not "QUANTITY". The academy would rather see you playing 1 o 2 seasonal sports, and accel in them, and eventually get into leadership positions in them; "e.g. team captain, defensive captain, offensive captain, etc...".

Having said that, there's no reason that you couldn't play a seasonal sport, and still do theater. MANY of other applicants/cadets have done similar schedules. They've done 2-3 sports a year, because they wanted to, and also did band/orchestra, scouts, theater, academics, and other time consuming activities.

No particular sport looks better to the academy than another. And for what it's worth, playing all 3 sports and not doing any drama, is also a very silly choice. "Throw it off your list". a) You should be doing what you like. You like drama, do it. b) The academy wants a well rounded person. Just like they don't want just a academic geek, they don't want just 3 sports. They want drama, band, volunteer time, spanish club, etc.... They want a well rounded person. They also want to see you develop leadership positions in these activities.

Bottom line: If you truly want the academy, and it's not just for the free education, and you're serious about your application, then.....
1. Find a way to take the most challenging classes and get good grades
2. Find a way to play a team sport, preferably high school, that you really enjoy.
3. Find extra curricular activities like drama, music, clubs, etc... and get involved.
4. Develop leadership positions in #2/#3 above.
5. Find time to volunteer your time/efforts to those in need, less fortunate, or where your efforts can improve them.

You're not the first to apply to the academy. You won't be the last. Just about every individual who's ever had an appointment, found a way to mix academics, athletics, hobbies, clubs, leadership, etc.... into their schedule. Now it's your turn. Best of luck to you. mike....

Christcorp hit all of the main points, so I won't repeat them.

I did, however, want to comment on the sports choices. I am a coach (cross country and track) for a Catholic Middle School, and I am an assistant coach at my kid's high school (highly-ranked Catholic college prep).

You are way behind the curve for any of the sports that you have listed. Every sport that you have listed, with the exception of cross country are skill sports that take years to develop in order to compete at a high school varsity level. If you are a truly gifted natural athlete, you could walk in and compete in cross country, but you would still need to train for distance. I am not as familiar with swimming, but there would still need to be a lot of training involved. The others you listed (wrestling, basketball, and lacrosse) are definitely sports that you need to build skills and competitive experience to make it at a varsity level. Your area of the country may be a little different, but for the most part, if you are not involved in a sport at a Junior High/Middle School level, or playing on a club or travelling team, it is very difficult to just pick up a sport in your sophomore year and make varsity.

I would suggest that you pick one sport that you want to try, and keep doing the drama that you like.

A question for you: Why can't you do both the drama and a sport in the same season? Is it a school policy, or are you just thinking that you couldn't handle both? If you are thinking that you couldn't handle both, I would seriously think twice about going to an academy.

Stealth_81

Stealth_81 said:

A question for you: Why can't you do both the drama and a sport in the same season? Is it a school policy, or are you just thinking that you couldn't handle both? If you are thinking that you couldn't handle both, I would seriously think twice about going to an academy.

Stealth_81

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Unfortunately, it is school policy. 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?

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?

Not trying to be a turd, but why can't you make the decision? You've already been told that the academy wants a well rounded person. Neither of your choices are "BETTER" than the other. There is no "magic list", that if you fill in all the boxes, you automatically receive an appointment. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way.

Pick the activities and events that you want to be involved in. It's your life, not ours. We actually had a person asking about every conceivable way to NOT DO A SPORT, because they totally didn't like athletics. And yet, he was trying to b.s. us, and tell us how much he REALLY WANTED to go to the academy and serve his country. I believe he was either b.s.ing us, or honestly had no idea what the academy and military was all about. It's all about physical fitness, leadership and teamwork. That's where all the clubs, sports, teams, leadership positions, etc... all come in.

In other words; choose ALL the things in high school that YOU WANT TO DO, and that classes that YOU WANT TO TAKE. If they all happen to be in line with what the academy/military is looking for, then there's a good chance that your were meant to apply to the academy or go to ROTC. If all your classes, activities, etc... have nothing to do with what the military is looking for, then maybe you were meant to attend a traditional civilian college. We can't tell you that 1 sport and 2 theaters is better than 2 sports and 1 theater. My NEXT question would be: "What are you doing for volunteering time?; what are you doing for leadership?; what are you doing for community involvement?; etc... There's a LOT of things that make you an "All around applicant". That's what the academy is looking for. YOU need to figure out what's best for you. What gives you the time needed for all the other activities, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY.... Which activities are the ones that YOU WANT TO DO.... Not the ones that are going to give you a "better chance" at a particular school. best of luck to you. Mike,....

Christcorp said:

Not trying to be a turd, but why can't you make the decision? You've already been told that the academy wants a well rounded person. Neither of your choices are "BETTER" than the other. There is no "magic list", that if you fill in all the boxes, you automatically receive an appointment. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way.

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I agree with Christcorp. We can't make the decision for you. It's all about what you want to do. If you do something just because you think it will look good on the application, that's going to show. Choose what you think you will enjoy as well as excel at. There will be many more decisions that you will have to make leading up to and during this process and it's best if you make them on your own and not by what others tell you to do.

ds is at BCT right now. he did one sport - swimming but did it well in the winter on Varsity and year round on a club team where he would go to practices 2 - 3 times a week so he could work it around his school work, boy scouts and drama club (on the backstage/ tech crew). you sound like you enjoy Drama club; do drama club and pick a sport you are interested in that you will continue for 3 years and be consistent. What about doing a club sport the rest of the year which would give you some flexibility. you can get leadership thru drama club probably - several of ds's friends were stage managers, production managers etc...

You asked for opinions....so here is my short one. Do Cross Country in the fall and Drama the rest of the time. Become a leader in both. Run all year, be dedicated (join a club team and lead there).

Do what you love, love what you do.