Wouldn’t it depend on how elite we are talking about @center?
If your kid has the potential to get 650 SATs, what advantage does prep school offfer? For example, a neighbor at an average public HS turned down three ivies for the big state college. My kids went to an average parochial school and attend colleges populated by prep school types. Nice kids but they do not academically differ. And they all get the similar wall street offers. Save your money.
Actually, @Center, I know of situations where it has worked that way, even at tippy top schools, if the applicant is strong enough.
@Burgermeister You look lost. This is the “vested in prep school; or thought about it long and hard and no debate is called for” room. Can we help you with anything? 
I agree with you @doschicos. I am not sure if you disagree @Center. We have had three friends over the past two years who had children who were strong athletes and strong students with high SSATS that applied after January 15 deadline at “top” schools (Andover, Exeter, Lawrenceville) got interviews in first week in February and acceptances on March 10. Only hook was elite athlete. It happens…exception surely, but it can happen and does. Let’s be honest, if a school wants you, the “rules” will bend.
in no particular order:
Toward the end of January many schools coaches meet. Each coach has a list of players ranked in order. We were told that a coach will support 5 to 12 kids per class a year and maybe two to four get in, per class. Additional FA is distributed at the coaches direction. Many people think that their kids are being recruited and they are not. If you are not on their list you aren’t being recruited. At the top schools most kids get in on academics and they are bodies who also play a sport. If you apply and fill out the prospective athlete form and then the coach emails you, you are not a recruit. So maybe you all are right that a top athlete can apply late and get admitted but I would be surprised if it was that easy.
@Center…I hear you and you may be, in fact, describing the process accurately, as to how it should (or traditionally) works for recruited athletes pre-January 15. We have been involved in various BS and there is another process that often happens after January 15 – obviously not as widely known or circulated. Coaches may determine they “need” certain positions, etc. and through various networks will reach out looking for top students and top athletes – post January 15 deadline (or schools are open to hearing “late” from elite athletes who are also top students). It is that easy. I am not saying people should pin their hopes on this route, my only point was that it does happen (and all these kids also needed FA, which they got).
31cruzan. I can see that happening. I would be curious to know how TSAO schools manage to do that as they have agreed not to actively recruit. We have a two sport athlete. Fortunately also an excellent student with excellent scores. So we are dealing with all TSAO schools but one. Thanks to a few well connected individuals we learned many details about this process. Coaches have lamented the difficulty they have in getting good athletes admitted. We were called by a friend whose kid was not planning on BS and was contacted and asked to apply and was offered extra time as it was so close to thee admissions deadline. Clearly there is some flexibility…
Schools offer late admission and even substantial FA with it, if they want a student real bad.
@SculptorDad – absolutely agree. @Center Yes, TSAO schools agree to not “actively recruit,” but I think there are always exceptions to the rule. As we all know, these schools compete with each other not only academically, but athletically, and if they become aware of a great student and athlete that can help their programs, they will find a way …Good luck to your child in the process.
31cruzan: we have been surprised by the contact and communication from two TSAO schools. So I am not surprised by the recruiting but I am surprised by after deadline admissions and FA within TSAO. Certainly not surprised all other schools. It is just like College, Ivy verses everything else
@Center – post-January 15 “activities” are common not just for athletes, but other sought after students as well.
Just to respond to Simple Simon’s comment above: an email came to my DS 2 days after Simple Simon posted. It was from a coach, saying partially “…rules prohibit me from contacting you after Feb 10. But if you want to talk, text or email me any questions, updates, show me more video, or tell me how you’re doing, you can initiate that and I hope you do. Just don’t be put off if I do not respond to you after Feb 10.” Hope that eases your mind regarding protocol. Apparently Feb.10 was some sort of official communication cutoff, and these guys were being courteous and respectful of the process.