I’m a bit unclear what is used to calculate this. There are calculators out there that use class rank, and others that use unweighted or weighted GPA. I’m pretty sure our school put both on the transcript. Is there a uniform way this is calculated or does every school have their own formula? Also, is there a list somewhere that shows what numbers are required for the different schools? Is this just for Ivy, or is it also used by NESCAC, Duke, Northwestern, etc? Thanks.
It is just the Ivy. The NESCAC uses a similar formula but there is less publicly available information on it. Same with the Patriot. There are no accurate lists available which set out threshold scores for any sport in the Ivy or any other conference. This is mainly because recruiting is a sliding scale, and the target for one recruit may be different than the target for another. In my experience, the coaches will not be shy about what stats a kid needs to hit to be recruitable, and then again what stats they need to see to offer a likely letter (in the Ivy) or support (in the NESCAC and Patriot).
The AI is calculated with class rank if available, if not then the schools will just use GPA and standardized test scores. As to whether unweighted or weighted is used, in my experience that varies by school. Some said they would use the highest on a transcript, which I assume means weighted (Penn comes to mind) and other said they would use the lowest listed which I assume means unweighted (Princeton and Yale if I remember).
Either way, google the TierOne calculator, plug in the highest standardized test score and the unweighted gpa. See what it gives you. Then do the same but with the weighted gpa. It is unlikely to vary by much. When I went through this with my son, we found the TierOne calculator to be exactly accurate at all of the Ivys except where it was off by a point at one school, which was probably a rounding issue. When he gets down the rabbit hole far enough, the coaches will also calculate your son’s AI and will tell him if he asks. Before you leave the TierOne site, hit the link for the charitable foundation the site supports. That site is hands down among the best resources out there and it is all free. Trust me when I say it will be worth the couple bucks.
Thanks for the info. My son gets quite a bit different results from class rank and GPA, that’s why I ask. If they look to class rank first, then that’s what we will focus on. I’m playing with his schedule a bit, and one change will probably increase GPA, the other class rank.
One coach we talked with at a DIII school said it’s a lot easier to make a case for a kid when his ACT test score results starts with a “3 in the front” Ha.
I would just ask the coach what kind of stats he is looking for in his recruits. Most are pretty upfront about it.
OK, I just looked at TIerOne calculator (too late to just edit last post, so I’m doing a new one), They say that GPA is being used now instead of class rank. If they were accurate before then my guess is they would be right about the change.
If anyone has recent experience, I would appreciate your input. I would just ask a coach, but we aren’t there yet (sophomore). I’m using this info to decide which coaches we will contact and how to best present his academic info.
Two years ago, if a transcript had a class rank, then rank was used as one third of the formula. If there was no rank, then it was gpa. The other two thirds of the formula were SAT/ACT for a third and SAT2 (where required) for a third. Where the SAT2 was not required, the SAT/ACT counted for 2/3 of the score. Pretty sure it is the same now.
I wouldn’t worry about how to package the academic info. Most of the coaches I have come in contat with can do this stuff in their sleep.
You should have a copy of your son’s updated transcript ( even an unofficial one the guidance counselor can print out) and a copy of his sat/act score print out. Keep them handy. It is useful to provide to any coach you meet with/talk with. Increase the rigor of your kid’s school schedule every year if he can handle it. Make sure to keep grades up. Study for the ACT/SAT. Without decent scores, it makes it even harder to get recruited. Good luck.
My son is a 2017 football commit with a 197 Academic Index. He had a 1300 on the SAT and a 3.5 Unweighted GPA. He was between the middle to top of the second band at all of the schools he had a Pre-Read at. As Ohio Dad mentioned all of the coaches are very knowledgeable on the index. A team mate of my son’s was a 3rd Band recruit and was told he needed to have a number in 200 range.