Alumni Connection for an Athlete Who Won't Get A Recruitment Spot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

I was hoping to be a recruited athlete at Princeton but it does not seem to be panning out. I do, however, have quite a few alumni connections with the institution. So my question is … Can an alumni connection help with admissions? If they have donated quite a bit of money, is that a plus if they advocate on my behalf? And I know that the extra recommendation letter from an alumn does jack s*** so would them calling the admissions rep for my region help at all? The coach at Princeton also said that if accepted, he would love for me to walk onto the team. So if I include in my application that I desire to walk onto the team and my alumni connection stresses this to the admissions counselor, would this increase my odds at all?

Just so I don’t have to go through my stats, multiple Ivy league coaches have said that I am academically qualified for the Ivys. However, I don’t have the academic merit to get into an ivy institution without a hook … aka athletics or alumni connections.

The one thing I’ve learned in life - and probably the most important - is that life is all about connections. Who you know and how well you know them can set you apart from the competition and give you a leg up.

2

Being a walk on at a school like Princeton is not going to boost your admissions chances. As for the donor recommendation, no one here can answer that question as it will depend entirely on that particular person’s relationship and influence with the school. Trustees usually get a spot or two. Is your connection a trustee or former trustee?

3

Unfortunately no. My connection(s) have had very successful careers in law and business. I’m not exactly sure as to how much they donate, if at all. But based on the fact that they have verbally said they are willing to help me out, I assume they have some sort of connection.

4

Verbally saying they’d help translates to a conversation. That offer doesn’t mean they have any pull at a tippy top.

"Connections " are not a tip in this case. A trustee doesn’t get to pick admits, though his or her kids may have a shot.

A coach’s perspective on stats may be very different than an adcom’s, especially when the team’s Academic Index is being met.

And while stats matter, applicants should know they aren’t the whole story. It takes more.