Many seniors are turning their attention to the college admissions process, and a few have already committed to a college through sports recruitments. Some people view this as “cheating” the college application process and believe that people should be admitted to college based purely on academic achievement. However, these people overlook the fact that high school academic achievement isn’t a guarantee of success in college.

Sports instill values in young adults that are vital to success in college and beyond, including qualities like leadership, dependability, commitment and the ability to work well with others. These values cannot be shown on a transcript.

People often stereotype athletes as “low achieving,” or “less smart,” than people who focus solely on academics. This presumption is false. First, being engaged in sports often helps athletes focus in school. Studies show that daily physical activity improves brain health and grade point average. Furthermore, to be eligible to be recruited for college, athletes must meet academic requirements. The National College Scouting Association mandates that all students who are recruited for sports maintain at least above a 2.0 GPA. Prestigious colleges and universities have even higher average GPA and test score requirements than the NCSA requires. In other words, being recruited to Princeton for sports requires GPA and test scores comparable to those of Princeton’s other applicants.

College is not only about grades and test scores. It’s about the whole person. Sports are often a stronger indicator of values and traits that lead to success than grades and test scores. So this fall, instead of grumbling about the so-called “lucky,” sports recruits who are “stealing” your place in college, congratulate them on a well-earned acceptance.