@merc81, I do believe that article is dated. The cycle for USNWR is one to two years prior to publication, so we are talking about an anecdote that is five to six years old. More importantly, however, is that it is an anecdote, and anecdotes are not very helpful in athletic recruiting. One kid getting into Bowdoin with those stats is a far cry from saying that is all it takes. My guess is that the kid was an amazing athlete that fulfilled a specific need. Perhaps he had other hooks.
@recruitparent, that is an interesting comment from the coach. I thought the point with SAT optional schools is that a less than stellar board score can be hidden and not affect the class’s mean scores. I guess Bowdoin requires giving board scores with the pre-read, even if the recruit doesn’t submit scores with the application.
I’d regard that profile as a well-documented case example in a comparative context, not an anecdote, @gointhruaphase. This doesn’t make it representative, of course. But that claim was not made.
Yes, Bowdoin requires test scores from athletes for pre-reads and ED apps…of course, there could be exceptions, especially if we look back over many years…but that is their process. I imagine there are TO schools that allow recruited athletes to truly be test optional.
Some test optional schools, including Bowdoin, require all matriculants to submit official test scores (even those who applied test optional)…so on the CDS those test scores would be representative of all students.
The answer to the original question is a resounding “yes”. Certainly stereotypical, but I’d place rowers and lax at the top end of the socioeconomic spectrum, which I believe generally translates to better scores for the sports “population” than say basketball or wrestling. So these schools need to adjust minimum athletic requirements accordingly. Really good original question but seemed to veer off topic a bit with replies…
The standards are variable by school. Even some of the test optional NESCAC schools require testing to be within certain ranges even though they are not required to be submitted. The variable banding system at NESCAC schools has been well documented. Basically you need to fill a particular need and profile for the school and it behooves you to inquire at all them to see where he falls.
The revenue that is added to the school may not be D1 add revenue but it is huge though in terms of potential alumni donorship. Winning NESCAC conferences are a major thing in the life of the college. Rivalries go back more than a hundred years. The sports that generate the most revenue are the helmet sports.
Right, the delta btw schools is well documented - what isn’t well documented are answers to the OP’s question about differences in requirements between sports at the SAME institution. I think it’s an interesting question
I was led to believe the lower bands in the Nescac went to the “helmet sports” while the cross country etc had to be higher academically oriented. I know from Dartmouth on squash all their recruits are top grades. A friend who’s child is a Princeton said the coach ranked his applicants and the admissions rejected/accepted them in order until the slots were full.
Ivy are different from NESCAC recruiting.
The article indicates the nescac banding system is not by sport but by the athlete’s academic qualifications going in to the consideration during admission process.