<p>I have to agree with riverrunner. It might be expensive depending on where you live, but it also might be worth it in terms of peace of mind. </p>
<p>I don’t understand the LL process, but doesn’t it mean that if you get a LL, you have submitted an application?</p>
<p>At the non-Ivy, you mentioned that she needs to get her application approved and then go on the official. So I would assume that she would apply before January and it doesn’t take much longer than a few weeks to get that early approval (ask the coach about this). You would know, then, before January if she’s in and in the very unlikely situation that she is not in, you can go for the Ivy before the RD application deadline. Again, though, it may be that the coach at the non-Ivy can ask admissions only for so many ‘early approvals’, so if that is the case, he may want a firmer commitment from you as well.</p>
<p>I’d think too about having her go ahead and make an unofficial visit, so that she can try to confirm whether or not this school deserves her 1st place ranking. I’d definitely have her submit an application to at least one of the Ivy’s that she liked. It seems like if anything goes wrong with the non-Ivy and she had to go back to one of the Ivy’s, that it would be easier for a coach to help get her in if she had met the application deadline. Good luck - sounds like your D is in an enviable position at the top of her recruiting class!</p>
<p>D submitted her application a while ago to the first choice Ivy and they have received all the other school forms as well. The coach said he would talk D’s situation over with the assistant coach, and they would probably present her application to admissions soon, and get her a likely letter by early Dec. D isn’t as worried about this as I am. During her official to the Ivy, she talked with several girls currently on the team who had also been deciding between the same two schools when they were seniors. The Ivy waited for them to go on visits to the other school in Jan. or Feb. But what happened in their case is not completely relevant, because they may have been stronger recruits than D is, or the coach’s recruiting situation could have been in a different condition. Nonetheless, it did show us there was some precedent for what D wants to do. </p>
<p>As for the other Ivy, the coach told her they would still have a spot for her in the RD round if she were to change her mind. D believed her because she was very nice and literally called D within minutes of getting D’s e-mail saying no to them.</p>
<p>The non-Ivy claims to not give officials for this sport until you’ve submitted an application and been approved by admissions. D just submitted the application. I agree it would be good if she could go visit now unofficially, and pushed for that, but my boss, DH, nixed idea that for financial reasons. With NCAA x-c regionals and x-c finals (including the dead period), Thanksgiving, final exams, and Christmas, there was no weekend the school could even really receive her before Jan. Why they couldn’t have given her an official in the fall, I don’t know. Maybe she’s a B-list recruit? They say she isn’t, but who knows? I do think this particular school is athletically prestigious and thus highly attractive to recruits, so they get a lot of kids who want to come. The coach takes his time, waiting to see which athletes go the extra mile to show their interest, and that way he makes sure the athlete is truly interested and doesn’t just want a free trip to a warm climate.</p>
<p>Sending you a PM, GFG. The gist of it is the performance list for juniors running track last spring. Seeing where your child lands on the list can tell you a lot about where they might be on ANY coach’s recruiting wish list…</p>
<p>Thanks, riverrunner! Yes, dyestat is very helpful, isn’t it? When trying to figure out where D stood, particularly in the eyes of the non-Ivy and more athletically competitive school, we did check that list a while back! And, while this sounds creepy, lately we’ve been googling the girls above her (as well as the top girls in the similar events) to try to find clues as to what schools they’re interested in, have visited, or have already committed to. What we found was encouraging, as one by one we’ve seen many of them look or go elsewhere. Also, in terms of the odds, we figured only 1 in 10 of the top girls would have the stats necessary for an elite school. Frankly, only after looking at that data did I begin to believe the coach might be telling the truth that D was a top recruit, because she didn’t seem good enough to me, but I guess in my mind I was including girls who are faster but aren’t in her recruiting class. </p>
<p>I’m still not sure that means the Ivy coach will really wait…</p>
<p>Since I have just recently completed the process I thought I could offer some insight. If your D is ranked well on the list that was posted than I believe she is definitely a solid recruit at any ivy league school. I was recruited by many of the ivy league schools and was told by all of them that if I were to apply there, they would definitely do whatever they could to get me a likely letter. There were some other non-ivy schools that I was interested in but they didn’t show me the same interest as the ivy league schools. I eventually applied to the ivy that I wanted to go to and asked for a likely letter. While waiting to receive my likely letter I asked the two other coaches if I could call them if things didn’t work out and they all told me they were still very interested if things fell through with the other school. Fortunately I received my LL but I would highly recommend doing what I did with the other schools. The coaches tend to be very understanding and at the end of the day, all they want is the best athletes they can get.</p>
<p>For me, I was able to cross the other non-ivy schools off my list because I fell in love with an ivy league school but for your D, she seems a bit ambivalent. I would have her weigh out her options before choosing a school but to be careful about it. She doesn’t want to burn any bridges and have nothing to fall back on. </p>
<p>My other recommendation would be to look at results at heptagonals (ivy league track championships). If she could score as heps, she is a huge asset to the team and that should alleviate some of the stress. </p>
<p>Also be aware that many of the top runners in the country want to run at schools where the can receive scholarship money so that also significantly decreases the amount of athletes looking at the ivys. And, on top of that, many aren’t intelligent enough to be admitted.</p>
<p>I think things will all work out in the end, but I feel your stress. As an insurance policy I would definitely have your D fill out an application for the Ivy that said they would still be interested if she changes her mind. At least then you could sleep at night. Until a LL is in your hands, you still don’t know what will happen with Ivy #1. Some non-ivys with strong bball programs like to bring their track recruits in during bball season so they can go to a game and enjoy the rah rah experience. Those with strong football programs like to bring their track recruits in during football season for the same reason. At this point however, you have no LL and no non-ivy offer YET (I’m sure they’re coming), so keep all options on the table.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for their input! I appreciate it very much. </p>
<p>I just saw an article on a girl who is probably the tippy-top recruit for D’s event. She is interested in the same non-Ivy slow poke school, and has also not visited yet. So at least that assures me they are probably telling the truth about their timetable for official visits.</p>
<p>GFG - sounds like you’re doing a great job of helping your D through this confusing process and watching her back! Sounds like the non-Ivy knows they can compete very well for recruits (and on the course or track!) so they operate on their own time table. There are schools and athletes as well who can do that - it sounds like your athlete is probably desirable enough that schools are willing to wait on her. Good luck with the rest of the process and keep us posted!</p>
<p>gfg: trust what u hear from the coaches they r good people and want to help the kids. and that non ivy…if your d has the grades she should go for it…“it” smokes the ivys in athletic and academic excellence (with the academic exception of H). this “it” school pre reads athletes so u know where u stand with admissions before u submit your app. was your d pre read?</p>
<p>also u commit to one school. send in one app. and get one LL or loi. u cant play them…multiple commits/apps/ll or loi</p>
<p>my guess…that non ivy will be her dream school. its generally all the athletes dream school…even football players now:) </p>
<p>shes an athlete. its all about going for the dream! </p>
<p>Well, we eliminated from consideration any schools whose coach we didn’t quite trust, so I think you’re probably right that we can believe them, pacheight. I think I’d be more relaxed with D’s bargaining position and with waiting if she weren’t having such a poor fall season.</p>
<p>We will perhaps be facing this next fall ourselves. For what its worth,and
Don’t know which schools you are considering, but did read in Playing the Game that NESCAC do not do official visits. Their system if very different.</p>
<p>The Ivy has granted D a likely letter. Now she can relax, and feel free to go on the late official visit and decide between the two schools without any time pressure. We are so thankful! I appreciate all the support from CCers.</p>
<p>That’s wonderful, GFG! What a great gift for the holidays to be able to relax some about this crazy process. And congratulations to your daughter - she must be quite an athlete if the Ivy is willing to give the LL without a firm commitment on D’s part! Thanks for updating us-</p>
<p>the track at the “late official visit” school is beautiful! and the wall listing the dozens and dozens of past Olympians is a bit overwhelming impressive!</p>
<p>it may change her mind about ivy covered walls:)</p>