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I am a year way from applying, and as I plan out this last year in school, I'm thinking of quitting the varsity sport I've been in since freshmen year. I have plenty of jobs and research/volunteer stuff lined up, so the 25-30 hours a week I'd save would all go toward that.
I guess the problem is I suck at quitting, in fact I don't think I've ever stopped an activity before I graduated out of that particular school. My questions are, if I stop and use the last year to really get into research and volunteering, would that be regarded as a mature decision or look like simply quitting?
Also, I've had some awesome experiences and leadership roles on the team, so would the years I've been doing it still be a good asset to my application (I'll definitely write about it) or will it be somewhat discredited because I quit?
Oh and this might mean I won't get a letter of rec from the coach, would that be important? Of course I'll have 2 good letters from MD professors instead.
I'm just wondering how this decision would look, maybe from people who've done it or know about it. I would be equally happy staying on the team or doing research, so that's not a factor, but absolutely no time to do everything.
Thanks for your input.
if you feel like quitting, then go for it. and if They ever bring it up, just tell'em you got injured and don't want to risk further injury.
Okay that's just made-up because you really have no idea. I used my coach for a LOR very successfully this past season - how would you know the value to an admin? BTW being a 2-time NCAA All American also didn"t hurt in the interviews.
spellie11 - agreed, senior year would normally be a tough one to take a pass on. But if the OP has lost the passion maybe it is timeto move on.
HrryUpNwait - seriously, you have to ask? Also I have read lots of well thought out comments since I started looking at sdn, and lots of completely off base stuff. This wild assertion trashing any coach's LOR's is in my top ten most misguided - could even be top 5, wtf?
Ok here's the clue: I M er - got it?
If you plan to use your athletic experience as an example of your dedication and leadership, I wouldn't quit.
if you feel like quitting, then go for it. and if They ever bring it up, just tell'em you got injured and don't want to risk further injury.
Yes! But your post is still in my top ten.
Let me jump on in and ask too...what sport did/do you play? (I don't care about which school you went to but are you Div I, II or III?). I can't see a true athlete quitting their sport...they're too in love with it. Are you a starter? Were you any good? 😀 If even thought about quitting my sport my coach/teammates would try to kill me. But then again, I love my sport so that would never cross my mind.
A lot of college athletes get into medical school without quitting their sport; you can too! Enjoy your sleepless nights due to all of the things you have to finish...I did.
Let me jump on in and ask too...what sport did/do you play? (I don't care about which school you went to but are you Div I, II or III?). I can't see a true athlete quitting their sport...they're too in love with it. Are you a starter? Were you any good? 😀 If even thought about quitting my sport my coach/teammates would try to kill me. But then again, I love my sport so that would never cross my mind.
A lot of college athletes get into medical school without quitting their sport; you can too! Enjoy your sleepless nights due to all of the things you have to finish...I did.
I agree, doing a sport in college is the best decision, but by far most difficult i have ever made (What sport are you in SportsJunkie?)
I am in D1 Track... im really going to miss it when it is done, but what 30 extra hours plus travel will do for my week is exciting.... haha
I like your point, but I think if you have played a big time D1 sport you would know it's no longer about "the love of the game". I love my sport, always will, but it was bigger than that. I was a three year starter and team captain, but when your team is losing and it doesn't look good and transferring is not an option then giving up the full-time job for medical reasons isn't such a gutless idea.
Basketball (Fwd/Center). I ran track in H.S. (lol)...what event do you run? I ran the 100m (<--Yes...at my 'center' height lol) and 200m dash/relays.
Very, very true. That's why I (and other posters as well) want to know which sport (and Div) the original OP played. I agree, it's a waste of time to put all of that effort into a losing team but did he/she not know that before they went there? Is he/she a scholarship athlete or a walk-in? All of that plays a factor in whether to keep playing I guess...
I agree. I was on scholarship, not a walk-on, and I signed to play for a team that was 16-12 when I was a senior in HS and we became a losing program when I got there.
I understand the curiosity. But please understand that as I'm still trying to finalize the decision and a lot of people from my school are apparently on this forum, I prefer to be as anonymous as possible. As for the nature of my role, yes I'm a starter, not on scholarship.
putting everything in perspective, it doesn't feel worth it anymore, especially if I look at what experiences I'm sacrificing. I would never quit in the middle of the season, but just considering not coming back for the last year. so I guess the decision is pretty obvious from here, I mainly wanted to know whether or not the decision will be perceived negatively, whether my decision to invest my time in another direction will be misconstrued as quitting/lack of perseverence.
Oh no! You didn't bring your A-game??Jk. I couldn't resist. You kind of set yourself up for that one. But, it's just a little athlete-to-athlete humor...😀
I was top 5 in the conference in points, unfortunately the rest of my team was not (they were top 5 in boozing though).
Darn boozers! What sport did you play? (<--if you don't want to answer on the forum, just shoot me a PM...I'm just curious.)
I don't think you can compare the OP to MJ. MJ ended up in the pros being the best bball player...ever; he paid his dues...it was time for him to retire. But, I agree, if the OP is wasting his time playing a sport, I guess he should move on? The adcoms will ask him why he didn't finish his senior year and if he has a good answer, I assume it won't be a problem.
OP- Are you quitting b/c there is something wrong w/ the team (i.e. you feel like you're wasting your time making an effort to play)? Quitting b/c you want more time to prepare for your career? (<--if so, does anyone think he'll be viewed as not being able to "handle the pressure"???) Quitting b/c you're not interested in the sport anymore?
OP, I played varsity soccer for 4 years in college and kept my gpa above a 3.8 with a biochemistry major. But I did not have time to volunteer or obtain an acceptable amount of clinical experience. So after I graduated from college, I spent one year getting this experience while working construction for money, and then I applied to med school the second year following my college graduation. I just could not do it all in college so I delayed my application to med school to fill in the holes in my application.
That's exactly what I did. A year off to do the above is the best kept secret.
That's exactly what I did. A year off to do the above is the best kept secret.