need input on what to do about my club sport

[GooDooG]

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I'm a sophmore who's been rowing from first semester of college, through the summer, and presently. Up until now I haven't had any thoughts of quitting, but now I am starting to realize the amount of work I'm putting in for it being a club sport. I've won various medals but they're not division level medals, just small regattas. Next semester I'm thinking of committing more time to my job since we're going to start writing a paper so I'm using that as an excuse whenever I'm considering quitting.

Basically, do adcoms look down on club sports instinctively even if they require a lot of work? there is no need for our men's crew team to be varsity because we just use funding that we get from the women.

 

[NickNaylor]

I can only speak for myself, but it's all in how you portray the experience. If it was extremely important to you, really shaped your undergrad experience, and can somehow demonstrate an aptitude for medicine, then the experience (club sports or otherwise) will likely be looked on favorably. When I'm reading activity descriptions to prepare for interviews, the title of the activity or the kind of activity really isn't important for me. It's all in how the activity is described, ESPECIALLY if it's marked as one of your "meaningful" activities.

In short, if you give off the perception that the activity was meaningful and formative for you, it will likely be valuable from the perspective of the adcom. Just because something is "club sports" doesn't make it inherently invaluable IMO.

 

[GooDooG]

I can only speak for myself, but it's all in how you portray the experience. If it was extremely important to you, really shaped your undergrad experience, and can somehow demonstrate an aptitude for medicine, then the experience (club sports or otherwise) will likely be looked on favorably. When I'm reading activity descriptions to prepare for interviews, the title of the activity or the kind of activity really isn't important for me. It's all in how the activity is described, ESPECIALLY if it's marked as one of your "meaningful" activities.

In short, if you give off the perception that the activity was meaningful and formative for you, it will likely be valuable from the perspective of the adcom. Just because something is "club sports" doesn't make it inherently invaluable IMO.

It was unimaginably valuable to me, which is why I am torn of whether to quit. Is 2 years a significant enough time for an activity; enough to talk about it throughout your application? I am also leaving because I keep getting sick/injured with all the additional stress and that's impacting my contribution to my team.

 

[LizzyM]

From what I've seen most pre-meds who row don't last more than a year. The cold, dark early mornings, the grueling training, the physical and mental effort... sounds like a surgical residency in Rochester.

It is perfectly reasonable to leave it after 2years to put more of your time into research (scholarly activity), service to others, or paid employment.

 

[GooDooG]

From what I've seen most pre-meds who row don't last more than a year. The cold, dark early mornings, the grueling training, the physical and mental effort... sounds like a surgical residency in Rochester.

It is perfectly reasonable to leave it after 2years to put more of your time into research (scholarly activity), service to others, or paid employment.

it's really funny you say that...because i row for rochester hahaha

 

[mybubbles627]

I'm a sophmore who's been rowing from first semester of college, through the summer, and presently. Up until now I haven't had any thoughts of quitting, but now I am starting to realize the amount of work I'm putting in for it being a club sport. I've won various medals but they're not division level medals, just small regattas. Next semester I'm thinking of committing more time to my job since we're going to start writing a paper so I'm using that as an excuse whenever I'm considering quitting.

Basically, do adcoms look down on club sports instinctively even if they require a lot of work? there is no need for our men's crew team to be varsity because we just use funding that we get from the women.

I think sports are great, especially if they aren't extremely common and you were a good athlete. I played Rugby in high school (attended nationals, was captain, played on my schools and the All-state team) and for my colleges club team. When I interviewed for med school it was one of the first things asked by my interviewers. It makes you stand out and that is always a plus. It shows you have interests outside of the normal stuff like school, research, volunteering, shadowing, which is what EVERYONE has. I would recommend you stick with it or be prepared to have a very good reason why you quit.