What looks better, golf or cross country?

[Serve.USA]

I want to play a fall sport this year but do not know what to play? I am just playing a sport bc of the varsity letter and was wondering if admissions would prefer one over the other? I do not care which one I play, I have no preference. Also I will do well on the fitness assessment no matter if I run cross country or not.

The reason I ask is that golf is over fairly soon in the year and takes up a lot less time than cross country.

 

[AROTC-dad]

If you have no preference, x-country will better prepare you for the CFA. Try to become a captain.

 

[Dad]

I want to play a fall sport this year but do not know what to play? I am just playing a sport bc of the varsity letter and was wondering if admissions would prefer one over the other? I do not care which one I play, I have no preference. Also I will do well on the fitness assessment no matter if I run cross country or not.

The reason I ask is that golf is over fairly soon in the year and takes up a lot less time than cross country.

It is great that you are thinking through how your choices impact your application. I would encourage you to consider what you enjoy and what defines you as an individual in addition to "what looks better". It sounds like you're well on your way. Best wishes.

 

[Pima]

I agree with Dad.

Do what you love because if after one season you hate it, and then join a new sport, which again you hate, you actually could do more harm than good.

The reason why is because they also like to see commitment. Switching every year to a new sport can be seen in a negative manner.

 

[Serve.USA]

Will the admissions recognize golf as a varsity sport just as much as any other not team sport? Will it have as much weight as cross country?

 

[time2]

....I am just playing a sport bc of the varsity letter

I think you are playing sports for the wrong reason if that is your main motivation. Think more of 'where can I excel?' or 'how can I best help my team/school?' or 'where can I contribute the most?' Don't focus on which one looks "best to admissions".

Service academies value sports for a number of valid reasons and they are looking for those who can excel in their physically demanding program. That is where you should start your decision making process. It shouldn't be about merely checking a box for admissions.

 

[Dad]

Will the admissions recognize golf as a varsity sport just as much as any other not team sport? Will it have as much weight as cross country?

No one here can really answer that question. Few posters (only one that I know of) are privy to the inner workings (including weights of specific sports) of the admissions process. Even if someone on these forums knew the answer, it would be unethical for them to say.

We understand the drive and desire to max out the points of your application. The point we're trying to make is that 'gaming' the system is in nobody's best interest. Be the best 'you' that you can be. That will serve you well for the rest of your life regardless if AFA is a brief 4 year part of it. Try and think beyond getting an appointment. Consider what you want to be doing at age 25, 30, 40, etc.

When you're flying low and fast in an A-10 towards a hostile target attacking your friends, know one will care if you played golf or ran XC. They will care that you are a person of character and optimally prepared for your mission.

I really 'get' that you are focused and motivated individual. You are asking for something that we either can't or won't give you. I trust you'll make the best choice for yourself. Best wishes in pursuing your goals and dreams.

 

[payitforward]

Great answers above, and mine will not add much to the conversation but I'm saying it anyway.

At our relatively small high school, an experienced runner would fairly easily make the varsity XC team, but once on the team he'd have to realize that the goal is to win the state championship. They work extremely hard, pushing every guy on the team to excel. It's a rough environment with a rough-edged coach who wants 100% commitment from every team member. They workout together every day in summer, before school, after school, and attend meets several times a week in the fall, then workout the rest of the school year "unofficially." To make captain, you'd have to be the team's best runner, passionate about winning state, eager to please the coach, an effective motivator for team members, and somewhat of a public face for the team at pep rallies to get the rest of the school to care about winning state almost as much as the team wants it.

So, I don't know, call me crazy, but the whole notion of signing up for the XC team junior year or senior year, and raising your hand when somebody says "Who wants to be captain?" -- well, that just would not ever happen here. Captain of the varsity XC team is going to be somebody who has devotedly run XC since 6th grade or who comes on quick and strong in high school and exhibits extreme leadership ability.

I guess I get annoyed by so many posts in this forum that make it sound like being captain is as easy as just showing up.

That said, I realize that at many schools, "captain" is a revolving door and doesn't mean much. I'm happy to say that's not the case here.

Same goes for the golf team, by the way. Highly competitive team, though I'd venture that the workouts are not nearly as extreme physically. Team captain is usually someone who ranks in the top 20 high school golfers in the state. You're not just going to walk onto that team and make captain.

To the OP: Passion is a virtue. Passion for a sport means you want to excel for others just as much or more than wanting it for yourself.

 

[Buff-IP]

Lettering in a sport, being team captain, both look good on your resume.

Just playing a sport shows you have time management skills, but so does working at a grocery every afternoon.