EastRound

West Point Candidate C/o 2026
Joined
Jul 8, 2020
Messages
150
Let me explain my situation:
I am a rising senior and will be involved in track next year. Since track season is AFTER the West Point application deadline, I will not be able to include the varsity letter I get next year in this year’s application. Is it even worth doing track if I can’t put it on my application?
 
Let me answer this nicely. Doing a sport just to get to put it on your application is always the wrong reason to do it. Also, since you have never done a sport before you don't have a guarantee of receiving a varsity letter unless your school is small enough that you don't have JV so you definitely wouldn't want to put that you received a varsity letter on your application before actually getting it. Lastly, if you really want to go to USMA you should 100% do track even if you can't claim it.
 
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Good answer above from @IN04MOM. Ask yourself: Why am I doing track?

Is it to boost your application? In that case, it’ll have minuscule impact, if even that. You won’t get credit for doing a varsity sport as far as admission decisions go, though it may be noted that you intend to do so, in the same way that it’ll be noted that you intend to take a certain math or English class.

Is it to boost your fitness in anticipation of entering USMA (or for the general health benefit, regardless of college plans)? This would be a very good idea. Anything you do to run, run, run, and to start plebe summer in great shape, is a very good thing.

Bottom line is this, whether for track or any other class or extracurricular activity you’re considering: Do it because you really care about it, not because it might look good on a college application. The latter usually gets sniffed out by admissions officers at your more-competitive schools.
 
Good answer above from @IN04MOM. Ask yourself: Why am I doing track?

Is it to boost your application? In that case, it’ll have minuscule impact, if even that. You won’t get credit for doing a varsity sport as far as admission decisions go, though it may be noted that you intend to do so, in the same way that it’ll be noted that you intend to take a certain math or English class.

Is it to boost your fitness in anticipation of entering USMA (or for the general health benefit, regardless of college plans)? This would be a very good idea. Anything you do to run, run, run, and to start plebe summer in great shape, is a very good thing.

Bottom line is this, whether for track or any other class or extracurricular activity you’re considering: Do it because you really care about it, not because it might look good on a college application. The latter usually gets sniffed out by admissions officers at your more-competitive schools.

Thanks for your reply. I have been training all summer in preparation for the CFA. Even if I don’t get into WP, I still need to be fit for service. It’s pretty guaranteed that I will get varsity due to my times and talent pool at school. I was only questioning doing a school sport as opposed to independent training because school sports take up so much time which won’t have due to work and other extracirriculars.
 
Agree with all of above but also have a suggestion. Does your school have a cross country team? If so can you get on that team as cross country is usually a fall sport. This might allow you to 'move up' your desired accomplishment while still helping you prep for the CFA.
 
I was only questioning doing a school sport as opposed to independent training because school sports take up so much time which won’t have due to work and other extracirriculars.

Is it even worth doing track if I can’t put it on my application?

Not looking to quibble — it’s your post, after all — but your follow-up post doesn’t jibe with your original post. In any case, seems like you have the answers you need. Best wishes.
 
Let me explain my situation:
I am a rising senior and will be involved in track next year. Since track season is AFTER the West Point application deadline, I will not be able to include the varsity letter I get next year in this year’s application. Is it even worth doing track if I can’t put it on my application?

Something I am noticing from my non-military parental insight. DS was a xc and track kid. Just being on the team, doing those summer/winter workouts when the temps were miserable as a group, seems to have helped condition mentally him for being "miserable together" as a plebe, knowing he is in the soup with a bunch of teammates. Knowing they can lift each other up, motivate, etc. That experience is priceless.
 
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