Number of Varsity Letters

J52kkk

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When the application asks for the number of varsity letters, are they really asking for how many seasons the student has participated in a varsity sport? My DS is a varsity lacrosse player and has been for 3 seasons but the students only receive one letter (at the end of their first season), and each subsequent year they receive a pin. On the application should he indicate he received 3 varsity letters (1 for each season he received a letter or a pin), or just 1 - since he literally only received 1 actual letter?
 
My son reported 9 varsity letters - the number of varsity teams he played on. I don’t recall him receiving any letters or pins from the school.
 
Do you mean the number of seasons he played on a team? Or he actually played in 9 different sports?
 
When the application asks for the number of varsity letters, are they really asking for how many seasons the student has participated in a varsity sport? My DS is a varsity lacrosse player and has been for 3 seasons but the students only receive one letter (at the end of their first season), and each subsequent year they receive a pin. On the application should he indicate he received 3 varsity letters (1 for each season he received a letter or a pin), or just 1 - since he literally only received 1 actual letter?
He should indicate 3 varsity letters.

The pin or hash mark received is considered the letter in those subsequent years. i.e. at my DD/DS's school when they receive their varsity letter certificate and letter insert they take it somewhere on campus, show it, and then have to buy the letter themselves. Their school doesn't pay for the first letter that you can place on a jacket. Some schools actually provide the letter. Subsequent years/sport just a hash or pin/ letter insert is given with the varsity letter certificate. Some sports you can be varsity without lettering, i.e. track, but then they wouldn't provide letter, pin, or hash mark insert.
 
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Forgot to mention schools can be different on varsity letter requirements but usually they will let the athletes know what they are and what it takes to earn varsity/varsity letter.
 
I would personally indicate how many seasons they played on a varsity team. Each sport usually has a different qualification to be considered varsity. If they were that season, I would indicate it.

My kid was a 3-sport athlete (X-Country. Indoor Track, Outdoor Track), and was varsity every season of every year. But his Outdoor in Jr. year, and all of his Sr. year sports were wiped out due to COVID. So, he was on the varsity squad for 8 seasons (3 freshman, 3 sophomore, 2 junior). I believe that is what he reported on his application.
 
IIRC - my son sought advice from admissions when reporting it the way he did.

He was on varsity 9 times in 3 sports. They didn’t give letters or pins - they read out all names and gave a certificate at the academic awards ceremony each year.

Each school is different.

Had my son put down three letters and listed 9 varsity sports, admissions could have assumed that he didn’t earn varsity status for 6 of them.

I would err on the side of putting forth your best application, knowing each school has different requirements. When in doubt, contact admissions advisor.
 
I would report it as the number of seasons you played varsity. If you played varsity basketball for all 4 years of high school I'd list it as 4 varsity letters. Ultimately, as long as you're clear with what you're listing they'll figure it out for how they want to use that information.
 
How about after school sports like martial arts at a private studio? My son has been practicing martial arts since he was young and now has a second degree black belt, earned with lots of time and grueling work. He is also part of their high performance competition team and has won medals. Since it is not a school sport, there is no varsity letter associated with it. Would this extra sport count as a “varsity letter” as well?
 
How about after school sports like martial arts at a private studio? My son has been practicing martial arts since he was young and now has a second degree black belt, earned with lots of time and grueling work. He is also part of their high performance competition team and has won medals. Since it is not a school sport, there is no varsity letter associated with it. Would this extra sport count as a “varsity letter” as well?
l wouldn't count it. I thought there was somewhere else to put non-school, non-varsity sports.
 
How about after school sports like martial arts at a private studio? My son has been practicing martial arts since he was young and now has a second degree black belt, earned with lots of time and grueling work. He is also part of their high performance competition team and has won medals. Since it is not a school sport, there is no varsity letter associated with it. Would this extra sport count as a “varsity letter” as well?
As Gannonfan said you would list the martial arts. You would list it in the athletic sports section in the other category other sport. The varsity letter section would be not applicable. And there would also be a spot for special awards for this section if the application is the same as years past. There is also a section for non-sport activities too. The other categories give you a chance to list things that are not part of the norm for everyone else but may be a big part of who your son is. The USNA application gives you an opportunity to list just about everything you can think of with the other categories. Your son should list everything and let USNA decide the value of it.
 
How about after school sports like martial arts at a private studio? My son has been practicing martial arts since he was young and now has a second degree black belt, earned with lots of time and grueling work. He is also part of their high-performance competition team and has won medals. Since it is not a school sport, there is no varsity letter associated with it. Would this extra sport count as a “varsity letter” as well?
1st, congratulations to your son on earning his second-degree belt, it's a huge accomplishment requiring years of commitment.

During our son's admission cycle, he reached out to his admission rep asking about this. He had done TKD for 10 years, competed, taught, ran testing, and earned his third-degree black belt.

The admission counselor told him to list it as varsity and to list 'captain' as he had led competition teams and taught. He spoke about it in other areas in the application and essays and interviews.

He included every medal he won at every competition on his resume and listed the major ones where he could on his application in 'other' areas.

I wouldn't discount that level of commitment and work. And his admission rep agreed. His teaching also could be highly regarded since he taught both kids and adults. And had to have interactions with parents and special needs students. That component was something he was able to mention in an interview.

I know it isn't a traditional 'high school' sport, mine didn't do any of those either. I would suggest your DS reach out to his admission counselor for guidance. It's early in the cycle, he has time to get proper guidance.

DS participated in USNA TKD briefly, but Covid and a long injury ended that.
 
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