EXTRA: Here’s Why You’re Not an Elite Athlete (Update)
Freakonomics Radio
The Ivy League Advantage: Fencing vs. Popular Sports
Fencing presents a significant advantage for students aiming for Ivy League admissions compared to more popular sports like soccer, basketball, and football. While approximately 300,000 high school students participate in soccer, the likelihood of using soccer as a pathway to college is drastically lower—75 to 80 times more difficult than for fencing. This disparity highlights how niche sports like fencing can lead to unique opportunities in elite education, as exemplified by an individual's journey and the understanding that their Ivy League prospects hinge largely on their affinity for fencing rather than academic performance alone. Conversely, there's a noted downside for athletes from Ivy League schools when transitioning to professional sports, where being from a less prominent athletic program can hinder draft prospects unlike those from powerhouse schools such as Kentucky or Duke, emphasizing the intersection of sports performance, academic prestige, and future career opportunities.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
