Varsity Letter Question

[OK2024]

I apologize if this has been answered somewhere else. I searched but did not find an exact answer.

My DS is currently a Junior and a varsity baseball player on his 6A high school team and will continue with baseball his senior year. Our school district does not give out varsity letters. He has read that the varsity letter is important to the application process. After speaking with his coaches he was told that he would receive a varsity letter if it was something the school awarded. Does anyone have any experience or recommendation on how to include that information on his application. Thanks, I appreciate any advice!

 

[Gannonfan]

Maybe just my opinion, but if he's on the varsity team then for all intents and purposes he's achieved a "varsity letter". That's basically what it means, that he/she is on a varsity team (as opposed to a JV or freshman team). For team sports like baseball, if he's on the varsity then he's achieved the varsity letter. On some other sports that may not have a clear varsity/JV distinction, like track, scoring a certain amount in meets over the year constitutes varsity status versus not varsity status. For baseball, I wouldn't think that's the case.

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

I apologize if this has been answered somewhere else. I searched but did not find an exact answer.

My DS is currently a Junior and a varsity baseball player on his 6A high school team and will continue with baseball his senior year. Our school district does not give out varsity letters. He has read that the varsity letter is important to the application process. After speaking with his coaches he was told that he would receive a varsity letter if it was something the school awarded. Does anyone have any experience or recommendation on how to include that information on his application. Thanks, I appreciate any advice!

This would be a great question for your DS blue gold officer. (Have him ask, of course) They have likely dealt with it from others in your area before. I am sure that he will be awarded points for the varsity letters from admissions it's just a matter of notating it in the correct way.

 

[Bigrod]

Varsity team, playing in a varsity game = obtaining a varsity letter

 

[99Gold]

Maybe just my opinion, but if he's on the varsity team then for all intents and purposes he's achieved a "varsity letter". That's basically what it means, that he/she is on a varsity team (as opposed to a JV or freshman team). For team sports like baseball, if he's on the varsity then he's achieved the varsity letter. On some other sports that may not have a clear varsity/JV distinction, like track, scoring a certain amount in meets over the year constitutes varsity status versus not varsity status. For baseball, I wouldn't think that's the case.

Varsity team, playing in a varsity game = obtaining a varsity letter

This is not necessarily true. Here are the criteria our team has for varsity letters:

1. Attend 2/3 of practices (unless otherwise agreed upon by coach...we have a dual sport athlete that often has games during our practices but is cleared).
2. Play in 2/3 of varsity games
3. Improve as a player and teammate during the season
4. Make a significant contribution to the team both on and off the field

We have several players that dressed and even played in some varsity games this year but did not earn a letter. I think this is a great question for a BGO/RC/ALO. Admissions has some discretion to award points for this very reason.

 

[gniyji]

we don't have jr varsity swimming team. so all swimmers are on varsity team. But to receive a varsity letter, swimmers need to compete at varsity level --that is post season level, like local/state high school championships. Some of these championships require cut off times.

 

[OK2024]

This would be a great question for your DS blue gold officer. (Have him ask, of course) They have likely dealt with it from others in your area before. I am sure that he will be awarded points for the varsity letters from admissions it's just a matter of notating it in the correct way.

Thanks! It is on his list to ask.