Job or Sport?

got_milk

5-Year Member
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Jul 3, 2013
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I have been on my school's swim team since freshman year. I have been on varsity since my first year. But this year, in May, I got a job. This is this first swim season that I am trying to hold a job. But after comparing my work schedule to my practice schedule, I have decided that I can't do both. It's my senior year and I'm not quite sure which one would look better/worse. Any help would be appreciated!
 
If you absolutely need a job, then I would recommend getting a job.

If you want a job but don't need it, then I recommend sticking with swimming as it shows the Academy commitment.
 
I'm also a senior, so this is just an opinion. I think you should stay doing a sport (especially if you do multiple seasons) because it shows athleticism... which will be better in the long run... and dedication to something over the course of many years.
 
I need a job, but not this one. My boss only give me two days a week and of those two days I only work 3 hours each day. So it's really just an inconvenience. So I "need" another job. But I would really like to show that commitment.
 
My kids worked and did their sports simultaneously, but the job (7-days-a-week delivering the newspaper from 5-7 am., then working Fri and Sat nights washing dishes at a local eatery) did not generally conflict with their fencing tournament or practice schedule. Maybe you can explain this to your boss and ask him to make an adjustment?
 
I need a job, but not this one. My boss only give me two days a week and of those two days I only work 3 hours each day. So it's really just an inconvenience. So I "need" another job. But I would really like to show that commitment.

What do your parents think about this? Have you solicited their input? Why do you need a job so bad? I have no problem with you taking a job if you need it (and it wouldn't matter if I did). But it seems to me from afar, based on how your commenting on this topic, that you really need to sit down with a parent and sort through this.
 
Why do you need a job so bad?

Based on our current financial situation, I need a job. It's not for any other reason. I would like to speak to my boss about it but because we are only open 3 days a week, I wouldn't be able to adjust my schedule by much.
 
Are you also a club swimmer? I am not sure of your HS's practice schedule, but based on ours locally it is usually only a couple of hours in the afternoon every school day and only in the Spring (yours maybe Fall, but you get the idea). All HS meets are during the week. If this is the situation a weekend job with more hours might work better. If you are also a club swimmer good luck, my sons have been down this road and there is NO time for any job. Both practiced before and after school with meets on the weekends.
If the situation demands a job, take the job and explain this to your ALO and in your activities portal/essays. USAFA is looking at the "whole person" and realizes that there will be differences for reasons beyond the individuals control.
 
Are you also a club swimmer? I am not sure of your HS's practice schedule, but based on ours locally it is usually only a couple of hours in the afternoon every school day and only in the Spring (yours maybe Fall, but you get the idea). All HS meets are during the week. If this is the situation a weekend job with more hours might work better. If you are also a club swimmer good luck, my sons have been down this road and there is NO time for any job. Both practiced before and after school with meets on the weekends.
If the situation demands a job, take the job and explain this to your ALO and in your activities portal/essays. USAFA is looking at the "whole person" and realizes that there will be differences for reasons beyond the individuals control.

I am not a club swimmer and our practices are late at night for 2 hours. But I would have to go straight from work to swim practice and then no time for homework. Thanks for the reply!
 
I think you can explain to your ALO why you quit swim team. If for financial reasons you need a job, than IMPO that takes priority over swim unless you are being recruited by the AFA or colleges for the swim team.

Honestly, there are many kids that do work until 10 p.m. Our DS worked 24 hrs a week as a lifeguard. MWF from 4 to 10 p.m. Sat. 6 am to 2 pm. He got home from school @ 3, changed and went straight to work. You can't do homework while you are watching a pool of swimmers.

The AFA and colleges are looking for kids that no how to maintain a high cgpa, with a rigorous course load and have ECs. It is called time management. They don't want just a book smart kid.

Personally, your schedule with the job looks like what our DS did for 2 yrs. This will help you in the long run, be it at the AFA or plan B college because even if you get home at 11 and go straight to bed, you can always wake up an hr early in the morning to study or do hw. I can't tell you how many times our DS got up early because he was too exhausted when he got home. He also learned to be pro-active regarding homework, such as essays and term papers. He would always do them as soon as assigned because he knew with his work schedule, he may have had a test the same day a paper was due. Getting the paper done early meant he could study for a test. Again it comes down to time management.
 
I have been on my school's swim team since freshman year. I have been on varsity since my first year. But this year, in May, I got a job. This is this first swim season that I am trying to hold a job. But after comparing my work schedule to my practice schedule, I have decided that I can't do both. It's my senior year and I'm not quite sure which one would look better/worse. Any help would be appreciated!

I don't think it will hurt your chances with a SA, if you stop playing a sports because you had to work for financial reasons. You already have varsity letters. Would have been nice to be a team captain, but you know better than I do if you will be a team captain or not. You should inform your ALO/BGO/FFR during the interview that you stop swimming (if this happens) for financial reasons and not lack of commitment.
 
I can only speak for USNA but would guess their approach would be similar to USAFA.

If you need to work to help support your family, it is understood that you may have more limited ECAs and sports. You need to ensure that USAFA understands this -- via your ALO interview, your essay, etc.

However, if you "need" a job because you want additional spending money, I would probably go with the sport, assuming you must make a choice.

A couple of years ago, I worked with a candidate with an analogous situation. His only ECA was a particular sport. When I asked why he didn't do anything else, he replied that his father was a geographic bachelor and his mother worked long hours. So, after she went to work, he got his 3 siblings up, made them breakfast and then took them to 2 different schools before going to his own school. After school, he picked them up, helped them with their homework and fixed them dinner. He found time for the sport but not time for much else. He received an appointment.
 
Curious what is a geographic bachelor? Is it Dad worked far a way and only came home on weekends?

got_milk,

I think you can see that posters understand the financial issue, but even if it means a hard schedule there are many that have done it. You can't walk in assuming a negative because come next yr., this will seem like a cake walk and you will laugh at how you thought it would be too hard to juggle both.

Also, I don't know your area, but in our area getting a job that will work with your swim schedule may be more difficult than you think. How long is your swim season? Maybe for now you keep this job, and do swim, than in 3 months from now you get another job.
 
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