<p>My D is being recruited as an athlete for a HYP school. She has been told for months that she is in the "top 8" group, but that only 4 slots were available for full support. She got pre-read results a couple weeks ago. Was one of only 2 to pass the pre-read. There were a few others who got "recruit with caution" status. Sounds good, right? Not. She got a call from the coach the other day saying that they are going to try to work with the girls in the "caution" category to try to bring up their scores, as they are better athletes. He advised my D that if she got an offer elsewhere, it might be wise to take it, as he could not guarantee anything for her. So she has a visit with another Ivy in mid-Sept. She loves that school, but it would be WAY more expensive for us. </p>
<p>My question is, has anyone else been in this type of situation? How did it play out? Since the earliest test scores this fall won't be available until end of Sept (ACT) and end of Oct (SAT), this is not a comfortable position to be in.</p>
<p>When in doubt, I assume that a coach would be reluctant to volunteer information that might hinder his or her recruiting. Since a coach would like to keep as many recruits who are both academically qualified and could make a contribution to the team, I would guess that your child is number 7 or 8 on his list. Since he has four spots to fill, I would be surprised if a coach would discourage his number 5 or 6 recruits. Rregardless, I admire this coach’s honesty. </p>
<p>How it works out depends on how much this coach wants the marginal students and how much pull this coach has. I know a coach who got an amazingly weak candidate accepted by giving away multiple spots. Although this school might end up working out for your daughter, but I would definitely look at the remaining two of HYP and a couple of others.</p>
<p>I think you are being let down gently. have her look at other schools.
if she can get in without a LL, she is a freebie for the coach, so no harm in continuing the relationship from his standpoint.
I think it’s unlikely she’ll be getting a LL and the offers from other schools may evaporate after ED time.She also may want to look at Nescacs if she is recruitable for HYP, and may end up being a top recruit at that level.</p>
<p>My two cents…Sorry to hear about your situation. I’m not entirely clear on the Financial situation or the discrepency between the two Ivy schools. I think you should pursue that other Ivy (#2), as the FA should be about the SAME as the other Ivy (#1). They are typcially very competitive with each other. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I’m curious that among HYP one would be “way more expensive”. I’m pretty sure they will match the FA offered at any ivy - most ivies have pledged not to be “outbid” by another school, especially HYP.</p>
<p>I agree with Olddoc in regards to being let down gently. If her sport is important to her I would think she would not want to go there anyway because why go to a school where she is not really wanted by the coach for her possible athletic contribution. (again that is only if the sport is important to her)</p>
<p>A few more details - school #1 is a HYP school, and the only HYP school to offer this sport. School #2 is another Ivy. The financial aid difference is about $60k over 4 years, quite substantial. We are upper-middle class, and only HYP seem to give much help for people like us.</p>
<p>The coach at #1 has always said he would be completely honest, and I believe he has. At this point, I think he only has 6 girls left to choose from for 4 spots. One is my D (presumably #6), one other got the green light and will get an offer, and 4 others are in the “caution” zone. So basically, if 3 other girls bring up their scores AND choose this school, there will be no more slots left. Last year, they had 4 slots for the team and ended up only filling 3. Not sure that pushing the kids to bring up scores has panned out in the past. My feeling is that it would be a good bet if we were betting people. But we are not. If D gets an offer at school #2, she will probably just take it.</p>
<p>There are no NESCAC schools that offer the sport. One of our state schools offers it, but D does not like the school. There are many other great choices, but these 2 are her top ones. Thanks for the replies. I guess we’ll know in a month how it all works out…</p>
<p>Although ‘negotiation’ isn’t a word that financial aid departments are fond of - if you can show legitimate recruiting interest from HYP - some of the Ivies will take that into consideration and may ‘enhance’ your FA award to be competitive with HYP.</p>
<p>Varska - We may be able to try that approach if this HYP school invites her on the OV (they are “figuring out the budget”). I am not even sure that if she had an offer in her hand from #1, that school #2 could do much with the aid. I know they lost a recruit last year over financial aid. Never hurts to ask, though.</p>
<p>Golffather - Yes, that is surprising. These smaller sports are kind of tough to deal with in the recruiting process. Not much to go on. There is so much more info available on the revenue sports, as well as track, crew, swimming. Once we are done with this process, I’ll let CC know which sport this is, in hopes of helping others in the future.</p>
<p>As nervewracking as this is, I can’t imagine what it must be like for the girls who have been asked to raise their scores. I would expect they would have to give up offers from other Ivy (non-HYP) schools in Sept to take a chance that they can get the score they need. Rather risky, unless they are such good athletes that other schools are willing to hold a spot for them.</p>
<p>FWIW…I know Cornell has women’s gynastics (not men’s). I’m not clear if the Ivy League supports gymnastics in general as it is not listed on the Ivy League website. This leads me to believe that these gymnastics programs are independent or affiliated with another organization</p>
<p>There are only four women’s Ivy League gymnastics teams: Brown, Cornell, Penn and Yale. Although the Ivy League website doesn’t call it a championship, there is an Ivy League Classic where only those four teams compete.</p>
<p>I would say that since the coach said that your DD was in the top 8, with 8 being kind of a goofy number, that she was 8th on his initial list based on the information you provided. If no other Ivy’s offer this sport, who does this school compete against in this sport? Those would be good schools to contact as potential schools for your DD to consider attending if she wants to participate in this sport. Since school #2 doesn’t have this sport, is she ok not playing in college? I’m also a bit confused about the financial aid aspect. I guess the Ivy’s we have looked into have roughly the same financial aid policy–but we haven’t looked recently so has that changed?</p>
<p>SteveMa - Thanks for your comments. There are several Ivies that offer the sport (but just one of HYP). School #2 does offer the sport, and she has an OV there mid-Sept (1st OV date for the school). According to a current member of that team, all the girls on the first OV last year got offers, so that’s encouraging. There is a 3rd Ivy school we are looking at that offers the sport, and she would have an excellent chance of getting in there even without a slot. The coach seems to have lots of pull with admissions, as long as the athletes apply ED. So there are other good choices for her sport, as well as good choices without it. She has many interests that she has been unable to pursue because of dedicating herself to this one sport for so many years. Our state school is excellent (and cheap), and she would be happy there, I’m sure, though probably somewhat disappointed if her higher aspirations do not pan out.</p>
<p>On Ivy financial aid, it does seem to vary pretty widely. There is HYP, and there is everyone else. A couple in the middle seem to be more amenable to matching, but not all of them, from what I have read and seen. If you take a look at the differences in endowment, it paints a pretty clear picture.</p>
<p>That was NOT our experience 3 years ago. Son plays Ivy baseball. Was recruited seriously by two Ivy schools and two Ivys not as seriously.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that Cornell has instituted a program & policy 2 years ago that it will match any Ivys FA package. My understanding is almost all Ivys have that program today.</p>
<p>If she gets accepted at an Ivy, any aid is financial aid, not athletic aid, so having an “offer” really doesn’t matter since there are not scholarships attached to that offer. If she passed the pre-read at her #1 and gets admitted, whatever package comes with that can be used to negotiate at Cornell or wherever. She could then try out at a walk-on. Same goes at her #1, if she gets accepted on her own, she can still try out for the team. All the coach is telling you is that he will not endorse her through admissions. That doesn’t mean she can’t try out for the team.</p>
<p>Lots of good advice here…and yes this seems to indicate she may be a strong academic candidate yet the others are stronger student-athletes…maybe borderline difference academically.
I am bit surprised a coach would even discuss the other athletes “caution” recuitable status with another student. I’d take that with a grain of salt.
your daughter is being let down gently.</p>
<p>She could apply without the coach slot and walk on.</p>
<p>FWIW HYP are competitive financially. IF you student gets into each, and you have the fin aid of each --these schools will look at peer schools fin-aid offers. It has to be a completed fin aid offer with admission - (next spring) in order for them to reconsider you aid.</p>
<p>The only problem is that if she “wastes” her ED admit, her chances of acceptance at all these schools decreases significantly.
I’d try to fall in love with a school that wanted her. As I said, coach wants her to apply because if she gets in, he gets a freebie, and if she doesn’t, it’s nothing to him. Plus he warned her, so he has a clear conscience.</p>
<p>Oldbatesiedoc, I completely agree. And she is already in love with the school that (hopefully) wants her. The only question is the money. I really don’t think we will be in a position to bargain for more financial aid, but we will see. There are many twists and turns in this process, and it’s hard to say what could happen in a month either way.</p>
<p>And I would never advise any athlete to use their one ED chance on a HYPs school with no coach support, unless that is truly the only school/team they love. One of D’s teammates tried that last year and ended up very disappointed. 93% rejection rate is not a wise gamble.</p>