Sports

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They use the class rank to eliminate the bias from schools that grade inflate/deflate.

This presents a problem when a student is at a large county magnet school where in any year there are 5-10 perfect SAT scores, etc. (My son's school has already seen several 1600 math/CR SAT's scores this year, and a couple of 2400's)

Last I checked the entire top 10% is > 4.x weighted GPA (and it appears 3.9x unweighted)

When we've asked the various admissions reps how they treat magnet schools they indicated they adjust for the competitiveness of the school.

So my read is that there is more to it than just class rank. Multiple briefings have indicated that they look in detail at the coursework, how many AP's were taken out of those offered, etc.

It does appear to me that class rank is more heavily weighted for the summer programs. I suspect because they do not have time for the in depth analysis.

While I find the statistics interesting, from an application process my son is just trying to stay focused on doing his best in his committed areas. Not easy with a full AP load plus scout SPL plus school sports.
 
RI,
I can't answer your question but thought I would chime in with my thoughts. Football was my sons only sport his junior and almost his senior year. Crazy kid felt he needed to do something this spring and went out for the baseball team when he hadn't played since 7th grade. Football in our area is coached a little differently than other sports in that your coach is completely in charge and pretty much in control of your life. "Officially" it is not a year round sport but your time in the weight room from Dec.-April is tallied and spring ball starts in May. One of the comments that my son made after summer seminar was that he didn't have a problem with following orders or the regimentation because it was very similar to his football experience. He also excelled on the CFA due to his level of fitness.

For you baseball fans he made the team, still can't hit, but is doing lots of pinch running and having a great time.
 
Ok thanks tarbe that makes since

And whether class rank or SAT math scores are weighted higher, I assume they're closely weighted since both are important?
 
These selection boards use pretty sophisticated methods to analyze the data they get. There is a lot riding on their decisions and they want to assemble the "best" class possible from among the many outstanding applications.

They won't ignore things important to the assessment, such as the rigor of the curriculum or the competitiveness of the school.

I know we parents (and some of the kids!) are always seeing the things in the process that we think are working against our candidate. Only natural.

My son is a band kid (with leadership positions). He is also very good academically and has high test scores. He is athletic and works out, but does not participate in organized sports at school. His free time is spent hunting, blacksmithing, shooting guns and bows, and (gasp!) playing video games. He also spends about 4 hours per week at church.

We realize he was selected for NASS mostly because of his academic success, and in spite of his lack of organized athletics. He is focusing on training for the CFA over the next two months because he knows that his lack of sports activity will be a cause for special attention regarding his fitness. We are hopeful that a good showing on the CFA, combined with an overall good NASS will help his chances, should he receive a nomination.

Thanks to all for the great discussion. I learn something valuable every time I come on this site!

Tim
 
All extra-cirriculars= quality, not quantity. 1 sport with a leadership position that you have done for multiple years is better than multiple athletics you've only done for short periods of time without leadership positions.
 
All extra-cirriculars= quality, not quantity. 1 sport with a leadership position that you have done for multiple years is better than multiple athletics you've only done for short periods of time without leadership positions.


I have to agree.

I will also say that my son's responsibilities/demands as a leader in band far outweigh what I had as a captain of a sport.

I asked my son previously if he wanted to drop band and pick up a sport (for the reasons we've discussed). His reply was he did not want to game the system.
 
I have to agree.

I will also say that my son's responsibilities/demands as a leader in band far outweigh what I had as a captain of a sport.

I asked my son previously if he wanted to drop band and pick up a sport (for the reasons we've discussed). His reply was he did not want to game the system.

I have a friend that was in orchestra all throughout high school and held an important leadership position. He is athletic but never did a school sport. He was awarded an nrotc scholarship in his freshman year at penn state when he decided the navy was his chosen career path. You are very right in thinking that having a leadership position matters a lot, even if it is not a sport. I compete in martial arts competitively, but it is not a school sport. My leadership positions in hs are all non-athletic. I recieved 3 academy appointments and an rotc scholarship. Your son's choice is commendable and certainly an okay one.
 
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