Sydney Scarpelli

3rd hour

October

Eisele

Dear Mr/Mrs President,

There's nothing worse then when you’re doing your homework and you look at the clock and it's 12 o’clock at night. Immediately you begin to panic and rush to finish so your grade doesn't drop. It may not seem like a big deal but automatically your homework is not being done with your best effort. This all resulted from you staying after school for volleyball and getting a late start on beginning your homework. I would like to bring this issue to your attention, more specifically when this problem relates college. I believe the college requirements to be achievable but unrealistic. Most colleges ask for a 3.0 GPA or higher and although it's not required it's recommended that you also have a variety of extracurricular activities or community service. Colleges should have more consideration of the students applying and lower there standards.

Jeff Brenzel, dean of undergraduates at Yale university believes that extracurricular is necessary to explore a person’s life outside of school environment, but what does that prove? If a student is maintaining a 3.0 or higher I think it's safe to say they spend a fair amount of their free time doing schoolwork. Along with studying and homework it's infer-able that the rest of their time is spent sleeping, with family or doing an activity. Weather or not when they finish school work they go to bed or go to a event does not matter. Teenagers often struggle with time management, and extracurricular activities demand more time and energy than many students can handle (Roland). Students began to overexert themselves and their school work and grades show this. They spend less and less time studying, working on projects and even homework in general. If students began to fall behind they don’t even have time to catch up or go in for extra help (Norman). According to clinical psychologist Tom Ferraro, Ph.D, when time for sleep and homework is reduced, it is almost inevitable that schoolwork quality declines. What a person does outside of their education should not affect where they plan to go with a career. Other than telling a professor the scholar is actively involved in their community a extracurricular serves no real purpose in someone's education journey.

On the other hand, others argue that it's crucial to have extracurricular activities. An extracurricular activity can introduce you to a passion, or give you new perspectives. Getting involved in clubs, sports, or other things outside the classroom can give you new skills and help you learn about yourself. Involving yourself in extracurricular activities or community service can so so much as enhance your people skills, help you be a better problem solver and even help you manage your time (Brenzel).

There are just as many pros as there are cons for extracurricular activities. I’m not saying they should be removed completely I’m just saying if a student has a 3.8 taking all AP classes but lacks extracurricular things don’t turn them down. They are obviously a good student who focuses on their school works and would do good things in college. Therefore, if a student has the time and energy to put into sports or clubs good for them but if not they should not be punished or turned down. Colleges should not base sole decisions of admission on the outside life of a student for them to carry on inside of school.

Thank you for your time, Student Sydney Scarpelli.

Bibliography-

1). By the Time He Graduated from High School, the Tournament Had Raised More than One Million Dollars. "College Planning - Extracurriculars Matter ? To You and to Colleges." College Planning - Extracurriculars Matter ? To You and to Colleges. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.

2). Roland, James. "Negative Aspects of Extracurricular Activities | The Classroom | Synonym." Negative Aspects of Extracurricular Activities | The Classroom | Synonym. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.

3). Norman, Leyla. “Reasons Why Kids Shouldn't Have Extracurricular Activities.”