DEAR ABBY: There is a subject in my house that's causing conflict: school sports. Neither of my children is interested in playing. They do well academically. They take advanced classes and music, as well as dance and gymnastics outside of school.
My husband insists they participate in a school sport. He says they'll never be accepted into college without a school sport, and if they are, they won't be eligible for a scholarship. Is this true? -- WONDERING ABOUT SCHOOL SPORTS IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR WONDERING: No, it's not. I posed your question to Hanan Eisenman, media coordinator of admissions at the University of California. He says the University of California does not require high school athletics for eligibility. Eligibility for admission is based on grades from college preparatory courses and on scores on the appropriate admissions tests.
Like most selective colleges, the university also looks for talent and leadership in a broad range of areas, only one of which is sports. The vast majority of scholarships are based on qualifications such as academics and financial need, not high school sports. By far the most important criterion for admission for virtually all colleges and universities is academic achievement.