<p>Hello! I apologize if this post is out of line with the typical format; I’m new to College Confidential.</p>
<p>I have thrown shot put and discus on the varsity squad of my school (a 5A in Texas) for three years. I hold the school record for discus, and have placed eighth (freshman year) and fifth (sophomore) at district. This year, I have begun an intense weight-training regiment that should help me make regionals this season and break the ‘100-foot’ rut I’ve been stuck in. I’ve compared my marks to those Ivy-league throwers, and feel that I can make comparable distances in time to send my data off to Yale and Brown. However, I am extremely unfamiliar with the recruiting process, and wonder if my athletic ability will be any help at all in admissions at a college such as Yale.
My academics are not up to par. My first SAT sitting came back this month with a 2290 (800 CR, 690 MA, 800 WR); a CR/MA combo far below those I’ve seen on the decision threads. I currently rank 34th in a class of 664, and have had one AP test (a ‘5’ in World History) with four more coming this year, and seven planned for my senior year (pending my family is not moved to another state over the summer for my father’s work. In the new city, I would have far fewer APs available to me, but would undoubtedly make state for track and field).
In my extracurriculars, I have a few 'different' features, but only one award at the national level. I am a 2010 Okinawa Peace Scholar (government scholarship for foreign exchange; went to school in Japan over the summer). I have won a place in a team of high school students that freelance for the San Antonio Express-News. My U.I.L. Literary Criticism team has taken first at district and regional competition. Within the school, I’ve been class representative (9th), class president (10th), E-in-C of the school paper (10th-11th; staffer in 9th), secretary (9th-10th) and VP (11th) of the Latin Club. However, my volunteerism consists only of childcare at my church; I’ve dedicated most of my time to athletics. </p>
<p>Would I be foolish to apply for recruitment at Yale? I feel that if my athletics aren’t noteworthy, I’m a painfully vanilla applicant (white, female, family income at 100,000) with no shot at admission. If I’m even worth the chance, how might I improve my existing situation?</p>
<p>You’re academics are solid even without recruitment. Idk if retaking the SAT to improve the math would be worth it or not. Might as well study and try to boost it if that’s the only time you’ve taken the SAT. Also, continue doing well in school and try to boost your rank. You’re in the top 10% though, so it isn’t a huge issue. </p>
<p>Let me just say that if you are seriously considering recruitment next year, your academics will not keep you out. You are way more qualified than some recruits that get in.</p>
<p>Thank you for the encouragement and links! This has been very helpful- and sorry for the misplaced thread, entomom; I won’t make the same mistake twice :)</p>
<p>The head coaches split up with recruits, not necessarily event specific coaches, and I was contacted by one of them in July. We chatted a bit, I faxed him my scores and transcript and stuff, and then didn’t hear back from him again until august. He just wanted to see how things were going, and then told me to let him know how I did on the ACT I would be taking after. I ended up getting a 32 so I never even sent in my low SAT scores, and he sent that to his admissions liaison, and they gave him the thumbs up. So, he offered me an official visit, which I took in early October. I loved everything about it, committed shortly after, and turned in my app late October, and got a decision two weeks ago.</p>
<p>So, they were very professional about it, and the coach who handled recruiting me was an awesome guy…although I wish he was better about responding to e-mails/phone calls, but that’s okay.</p>
<p>Discus is a serious Track throwing event, much like shotput or javelin, which requires a serious time commitment to become physically fit as well as technique. Ping Pong, on the other hand, does not possess the same qualities, therefore is not a recruitable sport. I hope you were joking.</p>
<p>That’s good to hear. I’m glad things don’t deviate too much for throwing… prior this, I’ve only read about the process for runners. They seem to be about the same. Congrats on the likely, by the way!
Were you involved in AAU or club for throwing? I haven’t joined, but I’ve considered since returning from exchange. Particularly if I don’t take another SAT, I’ll actually have the time to commit to club at this time of year.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that’s going to be the norm…
My school’s size has allowed us to have coaches specific to throwing, but some of the top throwers in our city do AAU regardless. My parents think I can hit 120 without joining it, but my coach has been suggesting it since freshman year. Maybe things will change once we get out and throw a bit; see how much the lifting has helped.</p>
<p>Hi theagentof chaos,
You’re getting great advice over here on the Yale forum. If you want more general info about athletic recruiting and the Ivies/selective schools, do re-post a question about throwing and recruiting on the Athletic Recruits forum, and do some reading over there. Lots of good information and helpful people. Yale could definitely use your help if you get a little stronger, though, so just hang out here until you hit 120, then wait for the phone to ring, if you wish!</p>
<p>Would that be alright? I’ll repost with a link to this thread.
Hahah- I hope it’s that cut-and-dry! Just need to keep hitting the weights, I guess. At least there aren’t any SAT Is to worry about any longer. ^___^</p>
<p>Jumper did you get recruited by the coach of your particular sport?</p>
<p>I only ever met with or talked to someone that said they were an athletic director until I actually made my school visit. </p>
<p>From my understanding you meet with a recruiter and if they’re interested they speak with admissions and your application is put into a different pool, however I’m not sure about the specifics.</p>
<p>Yup. Depending on how much a coach wants you, they could put you on their “list” of around 6 people, more or less depending on the sport (less for tennis, more for football, etc.), and admissions will read your file and determine if you are eligible for a likely letter.</p>