No Varsity Sports

Joined
Feb 23, 2018
Messages
36
How bad is it if I haven't participated in any varsity sports? I believe I'm okay in the Academic and Leadership areas, but I'm worried about my Athletics. I have participated in XC and Track, and will take a weights class and join the Swim team this year. Reason for not being a varsity athlete is that I'm just not athletic and I'm not very good at team sports. I'm at least average on my CFA scores, if not above average (max pushups, pullups), which would show that I'm physically capable of attending the Academy, and wouldn't participating in JV sports still show that I have the "teamwork" aspect of being involved in a sport?
 
Does your school offer varsity sports?
My DS school does not offer Varsity Sports.
He got his official letter of Assurance from West Point on August 6.
So as long as you are athletic, pass your CFA and show that you keep and active, healthy life you should be okay.
 
Don’t confuse varsity sports with just fitness. That’s part of it, certainly, but sports are mainly a leading indicator of teamwork, leadership, perseverance, resilience, dedication, grit — personal attributes that come from winning and losing, often as a team.

Not to say this only comes from varsity sports and team sports. You will not be dinged for being a karate champion, for example. But those are the most common sources and settings for gaining these important qualities.

So if varsity sports truly aren’t an option, make sure other parts of your application package demonstrate those critical attributes and experiences. People do get appointments without varsity sports — but there were major compensating factors.
 
Good CFA scores are not a substitute for sports participation. Sports participation falls under the leadership potential section of the WCS. You will get more WCS points for being in a varsity sport, but plenty a candidates get appointments without a varsity letter.
You need to make sure all other areas of your file are strong since you will be leaving some points on the table from not being in a Varsity sport. The best thing you can do is to have really good test scores. Keep taking both the SAT and ACT, until you have 700's in the SAT subsections and 30's in the ACT subsections. High test scores is the best way to combat not being in a varsity sport WCS-wise.
 
Good CFA scores are not a substitute for sports participation. Sports participation falls under the leadership potential section of the WCS. You will get more WCS points for being in a varsity sport, but plenty a candidates get appointments without a varsity letter.
You need to make sure all other areas of your file are strong since you will be leaving some points on the table from not being in a Varsity sport. The best thing you can do is to have really good test scores. Keep taking both the SAT and ACT, until you have 700's in the SAT subsections and 30's in the ACT subsections. High test scores is the best way to combat not being in a varsity sport WCS-wise.
I have a 35 composite ACT and an 11 on the Writing portion, and I have several leadership positions in clubs such as Student Council and Foreign Language, as well as having attended Boys State.
 
Does your school offer varsity sports?
My DS school does not offer Varsity Sports.
He got his official letter of Assurance from West Point on August 6.
So as long as you are athletic, pass your CFA and show that you keep and active, healthy life you should be okay.
Yes, my school does offer Varsity sports, but as I mentioned earlier, I’m not “athletic” enough to be considered a Varsity athlete.
 
If you are no athletic enough, probably you should consider going a different route. Every cadet or midshipman is an athlete. If you get an appointment which you will probably get because of your text scores, you will be require an enormous amount of physical training once in the academy.
 
If you are no athletic enough, probably you should consider going a different route. Every cadet or midshipman is an athlete. If you get an appointment which you will probably get because of your text scores, you will be require an enormous amount of physical training once in the academy.

Well, actually, if OP receives offer of appointment, it will be because USMA deems them fully capable of succeeding as a cadet and a commissioned officer. It means that West Point believes OP, despite not having played varsity sports, demonstrates the requisite levels of teamwork, leadership, resilience, perseverance, commitment — and yes, athleticism. Candidates do not receive offer of appointment “because of test scores,” but because of superior Whole Candidate Scores.
 
If you are no athletic enough, probably you should consider going a different route. Every cadet or midshipman is an athlete. If you get an appointment which you will probably get because of your text scores, you will be require an enormous amount of physical training once in the academy.
When I say I'm not athletic enough, I mean that I'm not good at team sports. I've never been good at kicking soccer balls or catching footballs. I do believe, however, that I am physically fit. My area of concern is not if I will be able to meet the physical demands of the academy. My area of concern is whether or not being a JV athlete is really that big of a difference from being a Varsity athlete.
 
If you are no athletic enough, probably you should consider going a different route. Every cadet or midshipman is an athlete. If you get an appointment which you will probably get because of your text scores, you will be require an enormous amount of physical training once in the academy.
Maaaaaaaby we shouldn't tell a candidate that they will probably get in because of their test scores (or for any other reason).
None of us know his complete file and even if we did, none of us know the competition in his district and state for a nom and none of us are on the Admissions Committee. Test scores are very important, but there is so much more involved in getting an offer.
I've heard of a cases of where a candidate had outstanding test scores but no offer, mainly because they didn't win a MOC slot because someone else had scores just a little higher or had a stronger file in other areas.
Test scores are very important, but they don't guarantee an appointment.
Your whole file should be as strong as you can make it.
 
As stated above the attributes of leadership and teamwork exemplified via varsity athletics are the real issue, not just your athleticism.

You can easily train individually for the physical requirements of the SA but you will need to show your other qualities via an alternate route.

I cannot comment on how a JV sports record will be perceived but you should certainly recognize that admissions will be scrutinizing to find evidence of leadership.

Re-reading your original post you do mention track / XC and swimming; individual sports like these are not usually a huge handicap vs team sports if that is your major concern. Not clear however if you mean these at a JV level?
 
I don't think "just" competing at the JV level would be any kind of disqualifier. Keep in mind that V/JV is all relative in that a JV athlete at one school could easily be varsity at another, depending on the size of the school and the level of talent enrolled. So, don't let this be a limiting factor because it shouldn't be. Just keep working hard, keep your head high and strive to do great things.
 
Good CFA scores are not a substitute for sports participation. Sports participation falls under the leadership potential section of the WCS. You will get more WCS points for being in a varsity sport, but plenty a candidates get appointments without a varsity letter.
You need to make sure all other areas of your file are strong since you will be leaving some points on the table from not being in a Varsity sport. The best thing you can do is to have really good test scores. Keep taking both the SAT and ACT, until you have 700's in the SAT subsections and 30's in the ACT subsections. High test scores is the best way to combat not being in a varsity sport WCS-wise.
I have a 35 composite ACT and an 11 on the Writing portion, and I have several leadership positions in clubs such as Student Council and Foreign Language, as well as having attended Boys State.
Focus on your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. USMA sets class composition goals, one category of which is "Scholars" - usually looking for at least 30% of the class to fall into this category. With a 35 ACT, non-athletic leadership posts, passing CFA score, and assuming your academics match your test scores, you have a good chance of falling into this category.
 
How bad is it if I haven't participated in any varsity sports? I believe I'm okay in the Academic and Leadership areas, but I'm worried about my Athletics. I have participated in XC and Track, and will take a weights class and join the Swim team this year. Reason for not being a varsity athlete is that I'm just not athletic and I'm not very good at team sports. I'm at least average on my CFA scores, if not above average (max pushups, pullups), which would show that I'm physically capable of attending the Academy, and wouldn't participating in JV sports still show that I have the "teamwork" aspect of being involved in a sport?
Average on CFA may hurt. Being on swim team may help. No-one knows. You may be one of the small percentage that did not play a varsity sport is HS. I think more than 90% have been varsity athletes. Good luck!
 
Son average on CFA, did XC but not varsity. Got an LOE, think due to National Merit Status and near perfect SAT's. He is now a Yuk. Likely need other stuff to balance out the lack of varsity sports to have a good WCS.
 
serviceacademyg

Honestly if you can pass the CFA and run 7 minutes +/- I wouldn’t sweat it! You will do just fine. Your ACT is beautiful and so will USMA think likewise. No shame in not having talent with balls and team sports. But showing interest and having done sports will pay big dividend during Plebe Summer or BCT. Because it will be tough and rough and you have to learn and be a great follower all through the summer and not let your Platoon down - PERIOD!!!!!!!!! This is where your team work abilities will kick in.

Boys State well done. Be sure to keep the leadership elements strong. Because ultimately that’s what you are walking into at West Point. To be a future leader in the military. Excellence in Academics will serve you well. At WP, your Cadet ranking will mirror your WCS makeup.
Scholar 60%
Leader 30%
Athlete 10%

And your ACT Score will be on your permanent records throughout your career. So again well done. I think you will be fine but you should keep a selfless attitude, stay in shape and be a true team player!
 
@Chebacca It's straightforward. There is a file that holds all your personnel records and in it is your ACT score. This file exists for your entire military service and probably beyond.
 
I dont find it strange that a athletic person couldnt be on a high school varsity team. I know many high schools where getting on a baseball, basketball or football team varsity team is very hard and competitve.. They put a lot of emphasis on the sports and getting on is tough. You can be a great swimmer and even a fast swimmer and yet slower than the slowest member of the swimming team. My point is depending on the school, it can be easy not to get on a team and yet be athletic. You just arent competitive enough.
 
Back
Top