<p>I've been in contact with an Ivy coach for quite some time (I also met with him during an unofficial during the summer) and about a week ago I declared that his school was my number one choice and that I would be applying early. I'm having a hard time understanding the subsequent e-mails so I'm wondering if some of the veterans here could give me some advice.</p>
<p>His first e-mail said:</p>
<p>"That is a great choice that ________ is your number one choice. I can honestly say that is a very special place to be a student-athlete.</p>
<p>Coach ________ remembers talking to you this summer (he and I talked about you again this morning), and we are definitely interested in having you run for us next year. We highly encourage you to follow through with your plan of applying early. While I say that we want you to run for us next year, please note that, unfortunately, even that is not a guarantee of admission. We never get every kid admitted that we want. The admissions office has the ultimate and final say about matters for admissions. Even if you are Usain Bolt, they want to see your SAT scores and essays :) . . . I tell you this not to scare you off, but just to keep you grounded through the process. We will anxiously be awaiting word from them just like you will be- so please keep us up to date if you hear anything from the admissions office, and we will do the same.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any questions as you finalize the application."</p>
<p>A few weeks later to update him that I had indeed completed the application for early admission and informed him that everything was sent in except SATII's (which I'm taking in November" he replied with:</p>
<p>"It is indeed a waiting, especially in the wake of the Hurricane that hit the east coast. _________ our admissions office has said they are likely to be some delays with getting back information to you on the same timeline as usual. If that causes any problems with other schools you are looking at please let us know and all of the schools will work together to not impact your search process.</p>
<p>Thanks again and let me know how those scores come back to you"</p>
<p>While the first e-mail seems like a sign of reciprocated interest at first sight, some things immediately confuse me, like why I would hear back from the admissions office before them if they were planning to support me. The second e-mail was a bit more of a yellow flag. I have never talked to a school who plans to support anyone who was still in the "search process". I have no idea what he means by the schools getting together either or why the timeline I would have heard anything differently than Dec. 15 anyways.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm overreacting? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t read the first e-mail as anything more then the coach wants to run next year for the team - once you get admitted on the strength of your app (not on the strength of the coach putting in your name for a Likely Letter). </p>
<p>Question: did you ask for a LL? If so, what was the response. If not, why not?</p>
<p>I see nothing in either letter that you will be reviewed any differently than all other EA apps.</p>
<p>Question: did the coach say you will reviewed differently from other EA candidates?</p>
<p>I see nothing to indicate that you are being looked at any more than casually.</p>
<p>Question: does the coach call you?</p>
<p>If not, I’d suggest keep up the search. If so, I’d press him on the LL.</p>
<p>In my Ss case, he never had any communications with admissions; his contact was with the coach - beginning until the end. The coach called every week and kept S updated on every step in the process. (he had to jump thru the same admission hoops as all apps.)</p>
<p>Given the time and date, I am assuming it’s too late to change an EA/ED decision UNLESS you have a Hurricane Sandy extension, but here’s my advice:</p>
<p>I would suggest that you ask the coach outright what level of support they will give you with admissions and what number you are on their list and whether they will get you a Likely Letter, BUT before you do that you need to know what you will do with the answer to those questions.</p>
<p>If this school really is your first choice and you will apply EA there EVEN IF the coach tells you they will provide minimal support, then I wouldn’t bother asking the question but would keep communicating with them enthusiastically and telling them they are your first choice.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you would apply EA (or ED) to another school (if they told you they would give you only minimal support) then I would ask the coach those questions outright and make sure you clearly understand the answer you’re given.</p>
<p>I agree with stemit. The content of the emails suggests that the coach is offering little support with admissions. Did he offer you an official visit? Did you ask about a LL and if you did what was the response from the coach? Given the information presented here it is difficult to judge your chances of success with early admission. To be on the safe side until you receive a LL or offer of admission I would continue to pursue other schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would say that they want you on the team but given that the track team is large, you are not getting a LL. I would say that from the second email, yes you will hear back from admissions on your acceptance, or not, before you hear from them. It’s pretty common actually. The coaches then work with admissions if you were to get a scholarship (but since I am guessing you are talking about an Ivy, no $$).</p>
<p>Well, based upon the content of your post, you’re not an “IvyHurdler” yet.</p>
<p>But anyway, I am not an expert on recruiting at all. However, other than trying to read between the lines (always a dangerous practice) I don’t see anything in the coach’s emails that is untruthful.</p>
<p>We never get every kid admitted that we want. - True.</p>
<p>*The admissions office has the ultimate and final say about matters for admissions. * - True.</p>
<p>they want to see your SAT scores and essays - True.</p>
<p>If, in fact, the LL is the missing piece here and the emails are not clear to you I suggest what other posters have said in similar situations … pick up the phone and call.</p>
<p>the hurdle is the admissions process. this does not sound like a recruiting relationship but rather a very nice coach who is smart enough to maintain relationships with potential walk-ons --who are often quite valuable. his words are encouraging only insofar as he encourages you to apply to your first choice school and if you are both lucky, you’ll be admitted and able to participate in his program. at this stage he is not offering support and certainly not a likely letter but who knows, perhaps if your emails continue amiably, he may eventually put in a follow-up phone call to admissions. if your application is strong enough on its own, admission to ivy is still lottery so his call could push you over -or not. if you want to apply ed/ea regardless, do so. it is not likely you will get further at this point with any other ivies either unless something falls through with another athlete and then they can get you. have you considered other d3’s? some have nov 15 ed deadlines. have you attempted the recruiting process formally anywhere? good luck</p>