Are athletic accolades important?

[dorian129]

I play a varsity sport with accolades including all-state, all-region, all-area, and all-district honors. I understand that being team captain is of importance, but do these accolades hold any importance to service academies?

 

[USMAROTCFamily]

I play a varsity sport with accolades including all-state, all-region, all-area, and all-district honors. I understand that being team captain is of importance, but do these accolades hold any importance to service academies?

Yes, these are looked at by West Point. Are you also being recruited in your sport?

 

[kinnem]

Just my opinion, but I expect team captain and other leadership positions will be as, or even more, important.

 

[MidwestDad]

Leadership roles are more significant than individual awards but they are both in your favor.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

“On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory. ”

General Douglas MacArthur

 

[brovol]

My son listed his "All District" and "All Conference" first team honors, along with the "All Academic" awards for soccer, baseball and swimming. I think mostly it is a way to distinguish someone who is "on" a varsity team from someone who is very competitive in varsity athletics. I think most kids who attend academies are "All League" quality in one sport or another, so that puts you in the mix. "All State" is a pretty bid deal though. I would probably emphasize that. My son wasn't close to being "All State", so I don't know the value of that distinction, but I would for sure toot that horn loudly.

 

[5Day]

Yes, Athletic Accolades are important, especially if they are "All American or All-Area". This is from a dated Rand Report http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR700/RR723/RAND_RR723.pdf specifically about the scoring system at USMA. This is from the "Athletic Activities" scoring section which make up 10% of the Whole Candidate Score (WCS)

Athletic Activity Levels and Points Athletic Activity Level Points
800 Points - An outstanding athlete (All-American, 1st team All-Area selection in baseball/softball, basketball, or football) and athletic rating of either 1 or 2 in the sport in which honors are received or a CFA score greater than 650.

700 Points - 1st team All-Area selection in a single sport (other than baseball/softball, basketball, or football). Captain of baseball/softball, basketball or football team. Team captain in two or more sports (other than baseball/softball, basketball, or football, for class size over 100).

500 Points - Captain of team (other than baseball/softball, basketball, or football). Varsity letter in baseball/softball, basketball or football. Varsity letter in two or more sports (other than baseball/softball, basketball, or football). 600 Varsity letter in a single sport (other than baseball/softball, basketball, or football).

400 Points - Participation in varsity sport without a letter.

300 Points - Participation in junior-varsity and other team sports (excluding intramurals).

200 Points - Candidates with no participation and no evidence of interest in sports.

 

[USMA21]

Yes those athletic accolades are very important