Varsity Sports but no letter

[Thunderbolt462]

I have a question about Varsity letters and the Academy. I have played high school and club sports every year in High School as well as off season workouts both with School and at the gym. My freshman year, I played freshman football and I started off the season on Varsity track, but encountered a season ending injury. The injury was nothing serious, but it put me on crutches for a bit.

Since I could not do any kind of sport involving running or jumping for a year, I took up swimming. My sophomore year I was on JV, but now as a junior I swim practice on varsity and swim the majority of events at meets on Varsity. Unfortunately for me, our team is the best in the conference and our sectional by far, and based on my times, which would get me a varsity letter at any other school in our conference, I will not be swimming at Varsity conference and receiving my letter. However, it is more than likely I will receive it senior year.

My question is, does not having a Varsity letter but being a varsity athlete at the time applications go through seriously hurt my chances of acceptance? I have a 3.7 uw GPA, an FBLA officer position and I am a Cadet Major in CAP and I am in the running for Wisconsin cadet of the year. I know this site has zillions of identical topics like this one, but I have yet to see one asking about being on varsity but having no letter. Thanks for any responses.

 

[Dad]

I have a question about Varsity letters and the Academy. I have played high school and club sports every year in High School as well as off season workouts both with School and at the gym. My freshman year, I played freshman football and I started off the season on Varsity track, but encountered a season ending injury. The injury was nothing serious, but it put me on crutches for a bit.

Since I could not do any kind of sport involving running or jumping for a year, I took up swimming. My sophomore year I was on JV, but now as a junior I swim practice on varsity and swim the majority of events at meets on Varsity. Unfortunately for me, our team is the best in the conference and our sectional by far, and based on my times, which would get me a varsity letter at any other school in our conference, I will not be swimming at Varsity conference and receiving my letter. However, it is more than likely I will receive it senior year.

My question is, does not having a Varsity letter but being a varsity athlete at the time applications go through seriously hurt my chances of acceptance? I have a 3.7 uw GPA, an FBLA officer position and I am a Cadet Major in CAP and I am in the running for Wisconsin cadet of the year. I know this site has zillions of identical topics like this one, but I have yet to see one asking about being on varsity but having no letter. Thanks for any responses.

I'm not sure, but I think that on the on-line application you report expected varsity letters for winter and spring sports of your senior year. In other words, you can report that you'll probably earn a letter. You could also mention your situation in your "describe how you have overcome obstacles" essay.

Keep concentrating on what you can control (grades, volunteer hours, leadership, fitness, etc.) and the other things will take care of themselves. Best wishes.

 

[zachserna7]

I would send an email to the coach over at the AFA explaining your situation, and possibly including your player profile with your times in that. I am not sure if you have done this but it gets you on his radar, and could possibly get you a scholarship if he likes you enough.

 

[billyb]

I am not sure if you are a junior or senior in HS. If you are a junior I would pull the coach aside and talk with him/her and see if there is anything at all you can do to earn the varsity letter. Be frank with the coach about your goals of attending a SA and how important the letter is to getting in. It sounds like you are doing all of the right work on the team, but are just on a superb team.

Best of luck!