<p>I think their official policy is no recruiting benefits, but I was wondering if I'm considering rowing there will that help my admissions opportunities? I got a perfect score on my act, but am unsure of if my gpa or extracurriculars are good enough so this could give me an edge
Thanks!</p>
<p>If you get recruited for their team in that sport, it is safe to say that it will give you a huge advantage.</p>
<p>Just playing a sport will not help, but being recruited is, as previously mentioned, a HUGE advantage and can make up for significantly deficient academics/extra-curricular activities.</p>
<p>Do get in to contact with the rowing coaches ASAP. By this time, the recruiting process is well under way and is nearing its conclusion…</p>
<p>If you are just “considering rowing” (as a walk-on), that will not help gain admission. If you are an experienced rower with years of championships, top erg times, and coaches’ recommendations, then you could be recruitable. As noted above, the recruiting season is almost over for this year’s seniors.</p>
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I disagree with this statement strongly! Playing a sport is a significant EC - especially if you were a captain, gained recognition, etc. This holds true even if you aren’t a recruitable athlete.</p>
<p>just<em>forget</em>me is absoultely right. No body knows about this issue better than him.</p>
<p>^^^ But I think that for an EC to be a viable hook, it’s helpful for a student to demonstrate in some way that they could use it to bring added value to the entering class.</p>
<p>Are you currently rowing? What are your erg times? Are you at the top of your peer group? If so, then contact their rowing coaches. Otherwise, it’s just an interesting EC. Congrats on the ACT however. Good luck to you</p>
<p>If you are truly a recruited athlete, Harvard or any other Ivy will make HUGE leeways with you, generally speaking (this might vary a little bit on sport but for mine, baseball, every Ivy school will pretty much guarantee spots for kids with SATs in the 1800s and 3.5/3.6 GPAs if they 1) are very desired by the coach and 2) can get in, given the constraints of the academic index; this does often mean mixing and matching recruiting classes based on both athletic ability and academic index and makes the recruiting process a bit more ambiguous than you might expect). If you are not recruited, expect no sort of advantage; of course having it as an EC is nice in the first place and your ACT score is also a good thing to have. You aren’t in the same position as any recruited athlete though (and given the nature of your post, it would seem that you probably aren’t distinguished enough in your sport to be a recruited athlete).</p>
<p>I was wondering, if a student does get recruited, is he/she obligated to play for the duration of his/her college life?</p>
<p>hell yeah they do!</p>
<p>are you sure of this? what if youre recruited by not on scholarship, just with easier admission? could you theoretically quit after freshman year or if youre courseloads too difficult? cause I’ve heard at least 2 examples of students doing that…
thanks for the input though guys, i was a little incredulous about the official policy of no preference for athletes</p>
<p>I think techfreak was joking. You are correct, a student athlete does not have a binding legal agrrement to continue in their sport. </p>
<p>However, coaches look very carefully at your past athletic record to assure a commitment to the sport. If you do not have four years of proven accomplishment at a state or regional level, the chance of being recruited is miniscule.</p>
<p>Harvard does not give athletic scholarships, just need-based aid.</p>
<p>Being a recruited athlete is a definite hook. But I strongly advise you not to go that route if you are not seriously commited to rowing in college. Ivy League coaches do not take kindly to kids using their sport to gain admissions and then bailing on the team. Nor do teammates.</p>
<p>^ On the other hand, they can’t actually do anything about it. There’s a lot of social pressure, but it’s not like you’ll be kicked out or lose out financially as a result.</p>
<p>You are correct, they can’t really do anything about it. But it is unethical to commit to a team to get you into the school and then not follow through on your commitment.</p>
<p>A girl who went to my high school was recruited there for softball. Needless to say she was a good student (I don’t know her exact stats) and we attended a pretty tough high school, but she was by no means a valedictorian, straight 4.0 student, etc. </p>
<p>So, as others have already said, if recruited it will definitely be a major boost for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Being a recruited athlete gives an absurd boost. It can help people who would not stand a chance in hell without a sport have a very good chance of getting in. Not saying athletes are stupid or it is a guarantee in, but it is the best thing you can do to increase your chances. (IF YOU ARE RECRUITED AND NOT A WALK ON)</p>
<p>Also to answer another question/echo what other people said, you are not required to stick with the sport. I know of someone who was recruited for a sport and then quit less than 2 months in because they hated it. It’s a pretty dick thing to do to the people who helped get you in and to your teammates, but if it’s not working then you don’t get penalized.</p>
<p>Yes, for sure. Preference is given to athletes, but only if they compete at a national or international level. Provincial-level athletes don’t count and neither do people who play the sport/sports for fun. </p>
<p>Athletes receive “likely” letters in November, meaning that they are guaranteed a spot if they don’t flunk their second semester.</p>