So I'm a senior in high school applying to college and a pretty common suppliment question is something to the affect of "Why this place?". So I answer with all the typical niceties however I like to mention the schools CSL team which I hope to join when I go to college. My question is is this a good idea? Are colleges even aware of their own teams because I want to convey a deep level of interest but I don't want to be completely random. Does it depend on the school, are the most successful teams like Duke and Rutgers aware of their CSL teams? Is anyone else mentioning CSL in their supplements or should I just drop it completely?

rredtooth

5464 Posts

December 10 2009 09:51 GMT

i think CMU has one of the bigger (not better...) CSL teams but doubt admissions people or even a large proportion of the student body know of our existence. i'd go ahead and suggest you keep that part to yourself lest you create an image of a game-addicted degen.

itzme_petey

United States1400 Posts

December 10 2009 09:57 GMT

No do not put any gaming related stuff on your apps. Creates an image of immaturity. While we are in the new age of technology and most people play and accept games as part of society. There are still alot of older people who do not. Remember who will be reading your apps. Old people.

d3_crescentia

United States4054 Posts

December 10 2009 10:10 GMT

I think a lot of schools are largely unaware of their CSL team. I think it's a bit too early to mention it, but if you get in and hype the league and the teams all you can you might be able to set a better tone for future generations of college applicants.

meeple

Canada10211 Posts

December 10 2009 10:19 GMT

I wouldn't put it down... they won't know what you're talking about most of the time.

shindigs

United States4795 Posts

December 10 2009 10:27 GMT

I would have to agree not to put in CSL stuff. I think if you put games as a reason you're attending a university or that its a significant part of your life, people will think you prefer to play over work.

Even though you aren't like that in reality, they only can judge you by whats on paper. It sucks dude, but its best to play it safe.

Crunchums

United States11144 Posts

December 10 2009 10:30 GMT

Agree not to put it in.

Pyrrhuloxia

United States6700 Posts

December 10 2009 10:41 GMT

If you are applying for game design then put it in, but otherwise...

Saracen

United States5139 Posts

December 10 2009 10:55 GMT

Don't do it. Admissions, as well as most of the student body, doesn't know what the hell CSL is.

Moletrap

United States1297 Posts

December 10 2009 11:30 GMT

#10

Yeah, and don't pick your school based on their CSL team either lol.

Mastermind

Canada7096 Posts

December 10 2009 11:35 GMT

#11

On December 10 2009 20:30 f10esqftw wrote:
Yeah, and don't pick your school based on their CSL team either lol.

Ya, no kidding.

Severedevil

United States4839 Posts

December 10 2009 11:40 GMT

#12

Ask for an athletic scholarship IMO.

MamiyaOtaru

United States1687 Posts

December 10 2009 12:18 GMT

#13

be sure and also mention you are planning on joining the intercollegiate beer pong team

hazelynut

United States2197 Posts

December 10 2009 15:35 GMT

#14

Princeton's student body and administration are pretty cool about what we do here. I always tell people about SC practice and our standings in CSL (yeahhhh top 4!), and most people just accept that as an interesting eccentricity. Interests are diverse in college, and people understand that.

Adcom probably doesn't know about CSL. I wouldn't put it down on your application because it won't reflect well if you don't phrase it with utmost care. It's possible to write something about it without sounding like a stereotypical gamer who has no social life blah blah blah, but you have to write it with the right angle in mind.

nosliw

United States2716 Posts

December 10 2009 15:44 GMT

#15

better not risk it imo

fanatacist

10319 Posts

December 10 2009 16:02 GMT

#16

I wouldn't put it in simply because of the implications on your priority management.

Rutgers is oblivious to the team for the most part, only one prof vaguely knows of something that we are doing but is probably not aware of what CSL is or anything.

alffla

Hong Kong20321 Posts

December 10 2009 16:58 GMT

#17

ddont

Xeris

Iran17695 Posts

December 10 2009 17:28 GMT

#18

ya, bad idea. gaming isn't socially accepted in this country yet to the point where putting that would be acceptable. if any admissions person reads it, he/she is gonna think 'why should we accept some kid who's gonna play video games instead of study or get involved in student body leadership, etc' ...

you're way over-estimating the popularity of CSL (so far). CSL is just a minor blip in the collegiate life. maybe in 1-2 years things will be different.