poker on college application

ActionJeff · #1 12-18-2006, 09:09 AM

the nits at OOT pointed out that I used the wrong forum. Also, apparently my question is "stupid" and I should "use the search function". If this is true then you can go ahead and lock this thread.

my situation is as follows:

I finished high school several months ago, and took a year off for poker. Been doing that for a few months now.

my GPA sucks. I had A's and B's in freshmen and soph year, but bombed 2nd half of junior year and senior year. 2.9 GPA

I have really good test scores. 1510/1600 SAT, and perfect MCAS (standardized MA test).

Not really much for extracurriculars. Math league and [censored].

I also used to play Magic (lol nerdaments). I won lots of tournaments including like $25k in scholarship and was really succesful at that. Seems like a good thing to mention in an application essay, yes?

Between mtg/poker and my test scores, its really all I've got going for me. Recommendations is a tough area too. I am not sure who I would go to for this. My grandfather works at a good college as a professor of sociology and probably has some connections in other colleges. I really doubt that any teachers at my school would be willing to write a good recommendation. Maybe one, idk if its even worth pursuing. Definitely not the guidance counselor either.

Mostly, I am conflicted about including poker on the application. I've worked with cardrunners, and being a part of a successful business seems like a positive thing. I've done really well playing poker. However, this seems like a delicate subject. Stupid people could see poker as being degenerate and a negative influence. Forget making tons of money and being successful at a strategy based game.

So, whats my line? Try to sell the magic and test scores and forget poker? Should I even mention cardrunners? Or maybe I am being ridiculous and having been very succesful in poker, it would benefit me to mention it. Perhaps I should just include poker and my successes on applications for a few slightly more selective colleges to try to stand out?

I need some sort of plan of attack because my grades really aren't good enough to get me into anywhere but a state school, and not a good one at that.

NickMPK · #2 12-18-2006, 10:04 AM

How old are you? It sounds like talking about poker would be basically admitting to illegal activity. I'll bet there are a lot of students who could brag about being successful drug dealers in high school, but I don't think even considerable business success at this would help them get into college.

steel108 · #3 12-18-2006, 02:14 PM

Apply to all your top choices. You have solid test numbers. If you don't get in, go to a jc and transfer after a year.

I would mention that you were integral in a buisness and have Taylor write a letter of rec for you. What you say really depends on the flow of your paper. You could write it and then post it here.

emon87 · #4 12-18-2006, 03:34 PM

Putting poker on a college app is a sure way to get rejected immediately. How can anyone think differently? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

tabako · #5 12-18-2006, 03:39 PM

Screwed for life, IMO

bruin · #6 12-18-2006, 04:01 PM

definitely emphasize magic and your SAT scores. As for poker, I would make sure to put an emphasis on the business aspect of Cardrunners, and not the poker aspect. Make it sound like you were a part of a successful online website (which you were) instead of a degenerate gambler.

Dave D · #7 12-18-2006, 05:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
definitely emphasize magic and your SAT scores. As for poker, I would make sure to put an emphasis on the business aspect of Cardrunners, and not the poker aspect. Make it sound like you were a part of a successful online website (which you were) instead of a degenerate gambler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just to add that you definatly have to explain a year off somehow, can't leave it as a blank.

NickMPK · #8 12-18-2006, 05:10 PM

The only way I could see putting poker on your application is if you used it in an essay like "during my last two years of high school, I stuggled to overcome a crippling gambling addiction." But it would certainly have to be positioned as an unfortunate obstacle to your academic success, and not an indicator of future success.

cking · #9 12-18-2006, 05:14 PM

I don't know what kind of level of school your looking for but while 2.9 isnt steller, with your test scores you can get into most really solid colleges. As for the poker thing, you probably need to mention what you've been doing in your year off but I'd mention working for cardrunner or whatever and leave it kind of vague as poker does sound bad to alot of people.

ActionJeff · #10 12-18-2006, 05:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The only way I could see putting poker on your application is if you used it in an essay like "during my last two years of high school, I stuggled to overcome a crippling gambling addiction." But it would certainly have to be positioned as an unfortunate obstacle to your academic success, and not an indicator of future success.

[/ QUOTE ]

so sad, yet true. The world we live in =/

as for cardrunners, I like the idea about the letter of recommendation and trying to use it (and travelling, which I have done a lot of) to explain the year off. However, still seems hard to fit it in. I don't see how CR can play a big roll in the essay if I have to be so general that I can't even explain what cardrunners does.

I quit Magic a couple years ago, but perhaps I could claim that I've been doing that a lot the past year. A little lying never hurt anyone?