Guest Blog: Evan Rabin on Chess & College Admissions
The Benefits of Chess for College Admissions
By Premier Chess CEO National Master Evan Rabin
When I was 7 years old and started playing chess, I never taught chess would help me to get into Brandeis University, one of my reach schools or get a job at Rapid7. Many of our high school students stop playing in tournaments because they think it is a distraction from SATS, tests, other extracurriculars, etc. However, they should note that chess is something that helps with college resume. Read my college essay, which I wrote about winning a national team tournament. In my final interview for Account Executive position at Rapid 7, my soon-to-be director did not ask me a single question about data security. He was astonished by national master title and asked me a bunch of questions regarding that.
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While good grades and SAT scores are essential for college admissions, it is important to figure a way for a student to stand out among its competition. I had a relatively low SAT score for Brandeis (1890/2400). That was on the bottom of the average percentile of students admitted to the school. However, I had a 90+ grade average in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at the Dwight School and had the honor of saying I led a national championship team and treated it like a business. Soon after I was able to mimic this success as I was the co-president of the Brandeis University Chess club. Universities look for potential leaders that could make a difference on campus, beyond excelling in their classes.
High school students will often quit chess, thinking it is too late for them to excel. While it is true that players need to be at least master to get full scholarships at University of Texas at Dallas, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Webster University, Saint Louis University, etc., one does not need to be that strong to benefit. I wrote a few recommendation letters for our participants of our Annual Make a Difference Teaching Chess in Africa trip and our high-school alumni.
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While college applicants certainly need to prepare a lot for their school exams and standardized tests, they need to remember to differentiate themselves through extracurriculars, service opportunities, etc. Whether it be chess, music or something else, one should get started today. There is no time to wait!
CEO of Premier Chess, Evan Rabin is a National Master. Contact him at evan@premierchess.com to set up a complimentary class.