Are Varsity Sports Required?

A

AcademyHopefulOne

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2014
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56
According to the Class Profile for 2016, of the 1193 cadets admitted, 1043 lettered in a varsity sport. I am the drum major for a competitive marching band that practices beginning in the summer and ending in the fall. The athleticism of each member of the band is pretty incredible, as marching takes more than one might think. My athletic interests have always been either running related or football, but they both begin their training in the summer as well. I have decent ACT scores, I'm a future Eagle, top ten in a class of 1200+, and I'm working on the CFA. I'm worried that the lack of an official sport will hurt my application. Does anyone have experience with applying without varsity sports on your application?

I really appreciate any input. I've been reading these forums for some time, but this scared me enough into posting. :rolleyes:

Thank you.
 
Letter

There are no absolutes. My DD did not have a letter until November of her senior year. She did club lacrosse and was not eligible for a letter and jumped over to swimming for a season. If you have a letter, it adds points to your WCS. If your an overall strong candidate, don't worry about it. WP wants a well rounded candidate, who is strong in most areas and is at least average in the other areas.
 
Simple math will tell you that about 150 cadets made it without the varsity letter... that's about 12%. The whole package is considered and no one thing will normally make or break you.
 
AcademyHopefulOne said:
According to the Class Profile for 2016, of the 1193 cadets admitted, 1043 lettered in a varsity sport. I am the drum major for a competitive marching band that practices beginning in the summer and ending in the fall. The athleticism of each member of the band is pretty incredible, as marching takes more than one might think. My athletic interests have always been either running related or football, but they both begin their training in the summer as well. I have decent ACT scores, I'm a future Eagle, top ten in a class of 1200+, and I'm working on the CFA. I'm worried that the lack of an official sport will hurt my application. Does anyone have experience with applying without varsity sports on your application?
Click to expand...

No one here can tell you for sure if it will be ok in your case. The only answer is "it depends." Drum Major is leadership for an EC. Eagle Scout is leadership. Your class rank is fabulous. What is "decent" when it comes to your ACT? So you are strong in academics and leadership. I am a band mom; I know the athleticism that's necessary. My son lugs an awful big drum out to the practice field...did so for 4 years. Then did the same for indoor drum line and jazz band. Nonetheless...that is an EC, not a sport. His senior year he gave up indoor, which he loved, to add two sports because of the athletics component of the WP file. He lettered in one, not the other. Is it enough? We'll know in a few months. Are you a junior? If so, I strongly suggest you find a way to add a sport. BTW...mine did not decide to apply until his junior year, or he would've cut some band time and added a sport sooner. Sometimes you have to cut out things you love to work on the bigger picture. Just my $.0.02... :rolleyes:
 
mom3boys said:
No one here can tell you for sure if it will be ok in your case. The only answer is "it depends." Drum Major is leadership for an EC. Eagle Scout is leadership. Your class rank is fabulous. What is "decent" when it comes to your ACT? So you are strong in academics and leadership. I am a band mom; I know the athleticism that's necessary. My son lugs an awful big drum out to the practice field...did so for 4 years. Then did the same for indoor drum line and jazz band. Nonetheless...that is an EC, not a sport. His senior year he gave up indoor, which he loved, to add two sports because of the athletics component of the WP file. He lettered in one, not the other. Is it enough? We'll know in a few months. Are you a junior? If so, I strongly suggest you find a way to add a sport. BTW...mine did not decide to apply until his junior year, or he would've cut some band time and added a sport sooner. Sometimes you have to cut out things you love to work on the bigger picture. Just my $.0.02... :rolleyes:
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to add, your Regional Commander can give you varsity letter equivalency, based on accomplishment, hours per week spent, and etc. A good example is earning a black belt in Karate. Don't know if being a drum major will get you a varsity letter equivalent. To second Mom3boys comment about her DS giving indoor to add two sports - your choice to make. No guarantee that if you give up something and do sports, you will get into West Point. But unless you are really good and really lucky, can't do everything you want to do and also get into West Point. So, how do you feel?
 
I see what you all are saying. My ACT is E36 M33 R36 S35 C35. I could join a sport, but it takes up an hour on my class schedule. It's weighted a 4.0 whereas I could take an extra AP class, weighted 6.0, and raise my GPA. Most of the top students at my school are in and have been in all advanced classes since they started high school, so if I joined a sport, my GPA and class rank would fall. I appreciate the help, and I've already sent an email to my RC.

Thank you, guys.
 
Well Rounded

It looks like you have the academic blocks checked. You do not have a Varsity Letter checked. As a graduate and former Infantry officer, I would hold it against you if I was a voting member on the Board versus someone with slightly lower scores and a letter. It's all about being well rounded. Saying that, your academic scores alone would probably get you in.
 
AcademyHopefulOne said:
I see what you all are saying. My ACT is E36 M33 R36 S35 C35. I could join a sport, but it takes up an hour on my class schedule. It's weighted a 4.0 whereas I could take an extra AP class, weighted 6.0, and raise my GPA. Most of the top students at my school are in and have been in all advanced classes since they started high school, so if I joined a sport, my GPA and class rank would fall. I appreciate the help, and I've already sent an email to my RC.

Thank you, guys.
Click to expand...

What makes you think that your GPA and class rank would fall if you play a sport? Are other top students no sports also, or do they sports?
 
Good luck to you as you apply. Like the people have said there were 12% of the cadets that didn't have athletic letters.
 
Two things.

First, being physically active and in good shape are integral to all SAs. Participation in athletics is also important and, typically, goes hand in hand with the above. Thus, SAs look for people who have demonstrated interest and success athletically. Not having that is not fatal but you should be able to show that you are physically fit by doing exceptionally well on your CFA and that you like sports, even if you may not be participating.

Second, SAs look for candidates who can successfully juggle competing demands. The reason, quite simply and obviously, is this is what SAs demand. Thus, they look for candidates who are strong academically while also are active in sports and ECAs. If you don't do sports, you should be able to show that you are super-involved in ECAs or do other things to challenge yourself.
 
MemberLG said:
What makes you think that your GPA and class rank would fall if you play a sport? Are other top students no sports also, or do they sports?
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Averaging in a 4 instead of a 6 will bring it slightly down. A few hundredths or a tenth of a point seems insignificant, but there isn't much separating the highest ranked students.
 
As you can see from the numbers, some get in every year without a sport. Their other factors made them exceptional candidates. My DS got in with no letter. He was a band kid but he did make time to run indoor track his last two years. He never earned a letter, never even made the cut for a major meet, never gave up band but he checked the block of being on a team roster. He did Ok on his CFA, not great, had to redo the basketball throw. He balanced out his "sports" leadership with being an Eagle Scout, Senior Patrol leader of a troop with 120 scouts, Boys State and other school club offices. If you have great SAT scores, a strong academic load and strong class rank coupled with other factors, you can get in without a sport. It is possible but not always probable. Strong athletic ability and weak grades can also get you in but you really dont want to be one of the roughly 500 cadets who spend their limited time off during the summer in summer school. You will still do all the military required stuff so free time is what is taken away. Study study study. Do a sport if you can work it in. If you cant do a sport, band and study in HS, you will find it way harder at WP.
 
mom3boys said:
His ACT is nearly perfect...that is huge, just saying.
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Agreed..
But if a candidate can't do a pull-up or run a full mile..
Not saying that’s the case with "AcademyHopefullOne

How can a candidate be seriously considered? even with great academic scores..

Go Army!!
 
CrazyHorse said:
Agreed..
But if a candidate can't do a pull-up or run a full mile..
Not saying that’s the case with "AcademyHopefullOne

How can a candidate be seriously considered? even with great academic scores..

Go Army!!
Click to expand...

I'll admit that I'm not currently ready for the CFA, but I spend every spare minute training. Before I started, these were my scores.

Basketball Throw: 64'
Pull-ups: 0
Shuttle Run: 10.6
Push-ups: 60
Sit-ups: 60
Mile: 8:22

Everyone's input is appreciated.
 
I'm glad you are practicing. You have no doubt improved what you've posted, so that's good.

Here's another thought on "varsity letters." It doesn't mean those 150 didn't do a sport; it means they didn't letter. That doesn't necessarily mean they are not fit and are not good. It could mean that their school has a very strict standard for lettering. For example, some schools have a policy that if you show up at all the practices, you letter. Others have strict point/time standards. Our swim and dive team is like this. You must have a score/time that is halfway between county qualifying and state qualifying to letter. Many add points weekly for meets, but they never letter. It is what it is. But how many go to West Point and do no sports at all in HS? Probably not very many. The physical program at the academy is very rigorous; I cannot imagine anyone wanting to put himself/herself through that if he/she is not athletic.

One suggestion: my sons have always had pull up bars in their rooms...they never pass it without attempting a few. Even my scrawniest one developed enough muscle and upper body strength to do a few (he is not my current applicant).
 
:groupwave::groupwave:
AcademyHopefulOne said:
I'll admit that I'm not currently ready for the CFA, but I spend every spare minute training. Before I started, these were my scores.

Basketball Throw: 64'
Pull-ups: 0
Shuttle Run: 10.6
Push-ups: 60
Sit-ups: 60
Mile: 8:22

Everyone's input is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Not sure if your Male or Female So cant tell how far off you are.. Either way get yourself a trainer.. And CHOP CHOP!! B]You can do this!! The clock is ticking.
 
AcademyHopefulOne said:
I'll admit that I'm not currently ready for the CFA, but I spend every spare minute training. Before I started, these were my scores.

Basketball Throw: 64'
Pull-ups: 0
Shuttle Run: 10.6
Push-ups: 60
Sit-ups: 60
Mile: 8:22

Everyone's input is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Here are your goals.. if you dont already have them.. Incase it

Score BB Throw Pull-Up S. Run M. Sit-Ups Push-Ups 1-Mile Run
Male 100 102 feet 18 reps 7.8 sec. 95 reps 75 reps 5:20 min.
Female 100 66 feet 7 reps 8.6 sec. 95 reps 50 reps 6:00 min.

Here is the link:
http://www.west-point.org/parent/wppc-greater-houston/MALO - PAE.htm

Go Army!!
 
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