How much does having a varsity letter matter for application?

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Miralitt

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I'm a current high school sophomore just looking ahead to the application process. Due to some extenuating circumstances, I cannot easily participate on a school sports team, however, I independently regularly run semi-competitively in my city. How much would this affect my application?
 
A candidate can overcome the disadvantage of not playing a school sport and earning a varsity letter. However, you still must strive to be an athlete. For students of mine in your situation, I encourage them to join some sports clubs, such as Ultimate Frisbee or similar. You might participate in martial arts, which can fit into your schedule. Start preparing now to perform well on the CFA. Part of the emphasis of team sports is the learning around being a supportive teammate, working with others and engaging in leadership on and off of the field of play. Other activities may demonstrate these talents, so be sure to focus on all three areas of academics, activities and athletics, striving to be a leader in all three areas.
 
Varsity sports participation can play a significant role in a service academy application for two main reasons:
1) The obvious, physical fitness and athletic skills.
2) The leadership opportunity, and other traits desirable in future junior officers: team player, collaboration, time management, determination, working through exhaustion/discomfort/pain, putting others ahead of self, strategic plannng and execution, communications, commitment, etc.

That said, if you crush the CFA, demonstrate you regularly participate in physical fitness activities and show strong evidence of your leadership talent and other desirable traits in other activities, you can create a desirable well-rounded profile. I am not talking about a rubber-stamp club presidency, but something where you actually led activities and made a tangible difference, something you can talk about in essays and interviews. Is there a failing club you can take over, revive and make successful? Is there something you can start and drive to success?

I randomly pulled up USAFA Class of 2026 stats - you can see the varsity sport element.
 
A parent of a current candidate here… As a sophomore, my advice to you is to first dig deep into making a varsity letter happen if at all possible. My ds is an applicant this year and that varsity letter was the toughest aspect of his application. DS dropped competing in his favorite activity (where he already had wins) to make varsity ball happen. Tbh, I wouldn’t have done it, but candidates aiming at SAs are the ones who find a way - and they are your competition.

If a varsity letter is thoroughly and completely impossible, make a plan that allows you to demonstrate objective growth and determination as an athlete.
 
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, former Army chief of staff and United States Military Academy (USMA) superintendent, best articulated the athletics-combat relationship: “Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”

Still true today and one of the many reasons why USAFA values athletics along with leadership and academics as part of the triad of a solid candidate.
 
While not a direct response to a "Varsity Letter", a thread was started a while back on "Why" sports is so important. Not just to the academies, but even as quoted by the NCAA, but for "LIFE ITSELF". And why the military, colleges, companies, etc. consider it on your application. Here's the link to the thread if you're interested.
Sports and your academy application
 
Christcorp said:
While not a direct response to a "Varsity Letter", a thread was started a while back on "Why" sports is so important. Not just to the academies, but even as quoted by the NCAA, but for "LIFE ITSELF". And why the military, colleges, companies, etc. consider it on your application. Here's the link to the thread if you're interested.
Sports and your academy application
Click to expand...
WHOA!!

CC...nice to see you!!! Been too long!
 
They should have Hockey and Lacrosse players on the top of their list . They learn how to succeed while under constant physical duress.
 
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