Athletic "recruiting"

<p>It seems that if you get on an ivy coach's "recruiting" list you are very likely to be admitted to the school.<br>
I wonder if anyone knows much about the impact of lesser degrees of support from ivy coaches.<br>
If a student has an academic record that is a "match", and board scores in the middle of the schools range, what is the impact of a coach's communication to the the adcom that the student would be a valuable member of his team. Is this the kind of thing that separates the applicant from the numerous other applicants with similar stats or is the reality "get on the recruiting list or get admitted on your nonathletic credentials alone".</p>

<p>each sport has a certain academic index. The entire team must average out to a certain number give or take a few points. Football for instance has the lowest academic index for obvious reasons. So if you are not the best athlete but have great scores, some coaches with support you in order that they can recruit a kid with below average stats. Getting a coach to support your application is a big plus. Coach Bradley (baseball) has gotten every recruit on his support list accpeted since he has been at Princeton, just to give you an idea.</p>

<p>So people qualifying for nationals in any fairly major sport are recruited/scouted or what?</p>

<p>as you can imagine the Ivy league schools dont have as big of a recruiting budget as bigger schools, so some of the time you will need to seek the school out. If you are qualifying for nationals, chances are you arent going to an Ivy, and if you are they prob. would not have recruited you because athletes that good usually go to big time programs. Best thing to do is to get on the teams website and contact the coach.</p>

<p>What I am really asking is the following:</p>

<p>Let's say that a coach is allowed a recruiting "list" of nine athletes. Some coaches indicate to an applicant that even if the student does not end up on the "list", the coach will make sure the adcom is aware that the student would be an asset to his team. I assume that this lesser level of support is not going to get you in if you have 1800 boards
and a 3.4 GPA. What are the chances that it would be enough to give a student with a top academic record, solid ECs and 2250 SATs the extra push that everyone needs to get into the ivies?</p>

<p>I went through the recruiting process in both Ivy and Div. 1 athletic programs, so I have some experience in the topic. At Princeton, I recieved a slightly peculiar letter from the coach telling me that I was not one of his top ten recruits, but if he was not able to get his top recruits on, I would be the next on his list. It ended up that a couple of kids ended up not being admitted and that left me a spot to walk on. I applied early to Princeton and ended up getting in. The truth is, coaches have power when it comes to admissions, but not as much as they say. They will take a kid with a 1900-2000 before a kid with a 2250 if the kid with the lower score is more talented. Coaches aren't nearly as concerned with helping academically gifted kids into the school as they are with getting gifted athletes. Athletes are what allow the coach to keep his or her job. Because of the Ivy league index; the higher your grades the better chance you have. If you aren't on the list, you still have a chance; like in my case. Just because you are on the list, it doesn't mean you're going to get in. But in my case, I'm not ensured a spot; I have to try out and make the team. But higher grades are def a plus. Your best bet is to get as good as you can at whatever sport you are playing; so that the coaches put you on that list, and that admissions realize your importance.</p>

<p>popcornplaya, you do know that the Ivy League is Division I, and if you can get on a coaches list, the admissions office usually gives a sport a certain number of spots, then you have a great shot at getting in. A coach wont usually use one of his spots unless he thinks you can get in. I was recruited by a couple schools other than Princeton, Brown being one, and in October when I went on my visit to Brown the coach faxed to my house a likely letter and said he could take me to the admissions office that day and be guarenteed admittance. Recruited athletes have the highest admission rating of any group...legacy, minority, etc.</p>

<p>Well, I'm playing a sport like cross country, and I'm not going to turn down princeton lol it's my ED choice for a college.</p>

<p>by the way texas, that nationals comment is kind of offensive to some. I don't take offense to it since I do well in school and play sports, but saying people who go to nationals are not applying to ivy league sounds a bit like a stereotype that you can only be athletic or only smart, but not both at the same time. Then again you did say "chances" so maybe I'm getting uptight....</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for the input though I am still eager to hear about more experiences. By the way, I understand fully that a coaches job is to put together the best team he can.
If he can get a four minute miler with 1800 SATs in, it makes sense that he will choose him over a 4:20 miler with 2250. I just wonder how much coaches can influence an admission decision involving someone whom he has not put on his "recruiting list", but who has academic credentials that make him a "match" or "near match" for the school.</p>

<p>i didnt mean it in a negative way at all, i was just saying that in my opinion if you qualify for nationals and compete at that level you usually go to a bigger program, but you are right, there are some really smart people that want a great education also, good point.</p>

<p>holycow I don't know if a mere 20 seconds on a mile justifies a 450 point disparity really...both of those times are sick (as in all american) and with proper training will level off in the high 3 minute range. Of course, what do I know, my best official mile is 1.5 minutes off that lol.</p>

<p>now imagine someone as good as vince carter comes to princeton to play basketball despite scholarships from other schools lol.</p>

<p>blood and iron: those times were hypothetical- I don't think too many people come out of high school running 4:00 miles, sorry.</p>

<p>holycow you'd be surprised with the number of people who come very close to that. My cross country and track coach said himself that 4:30 is needed just to BE all-american..then the best of the best are probably near 4:10. It probably won't happen unless some kid has been training for 8 years, which would be a waste then if he does nothing else with his life.</p>

<p>U need much lower than a 4:30 to be all-american (in high school anyways). The top mile runners recruited are always near 4 (world record is quite a bit below 4, dont remember the exact time). My old high school alone had 6 runners under 4:25. </p>

<p>Just answering the question, yes it is easier to get into Pton, or any other ivy league, after being recruited. There usually is some sort of cut off, such as at Harvard for track on the old SAT scale was a 1150 was "minimum." Pton is similar. Its not a definite shoe in but if you are good and considering the school and one of the high recruits, most likely you will get in</p>

<p>Haha "a mere 20 seconds". A 4 minute miler would be the best in the country (only four high schoolers in history have broken 4), and thousands of kids run in the 4:20s yearly.</p>

<p>is anyone here going to be participating in a sport next year at Princeton? just curious</p>

<p>Silver, you're absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking. I just finished watching "four minutes" yesterday so I seem to have forgotten that four minute miles are done these days lol.</p>

<p>Yeah Texas, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that it is possible to be on the recruiting "list" and not be admitted. In addition, as a recruited athlete you must know that there is a difference between the way that Ivies recruit and the way that all other Div. 1's recruit; that was the distinction that I was attempting to make.</p>