<p>I'm trying to decide where to apply early, so I need to gauge how much admissions boost I will receive from a Harvard sport (non-revenue generating). The coach has very few LL's to give out (1-2) and has said that my receiving one is unlikely. However, he has offered to give me one of his 4-5 additional spots for support. He will meet with his admissions liaison soon to introduce my file and get a pre-read. He has said that my chances at admissions are very good. However, I want to know if any of you have experience with recruits who don't receive likely letters. I realize that I will have to wait until December 15 to wait for my SCEA decision, unlike someone who receives a LL. But, other than that distinction, how do my chances compare to those of an athlete who receives a LL (and is a virtual admit). </p>
<p>I’d echo OldScarecrow’s statement. Without a LL, it’s best to consider yourself in the general applicant pool. Be optimistic, but make contingency plans.</p>
<p>If you’re “almost” recruitable at Harvard, are you giving up some opportunities at other Ivies or top schools who also have EA/ED for this chance at H? I’m not judging that decision, just suggesting you might have a strong enough hand to play and win at a school that is in the same class as Harvard. Example: U Chicago is DIII. Of course I don’t know the sport. Oh. Wait. I just took another look at your name. This comment is probably futile :)</p>
<p>I agree with river-why not look at the top D3 schools? It seems Amherst, Williams, or Midd might snap you right up…Harvard is better for grad school, anyway;<!</p>
<p>Seriously, there could be a heartbreak waitin’ to happen here. Or if it’s big name school, nothing like telling the H coach that the Y coach really wants you to stir up a little interest.</p>
<p>Haha, I don’t know about that strategy, Batesie. A lot of coaches are very aware of what their counterparts are doing, throwing out a bluff like that might be a good way to end up losing any support.</p>
<p>I was recently offered a likely letter at Brown, for which I would have to apply ED. The H coach maintains his position that I will “probably” get in. What do I do? Do you still think that my chances at H are 1 in 6 (and not 80-90% as the coach insists)?</p>
<p>From what I have seen, the 2 schools are not even remotely similar. The only similarity is that both compete in the same athletic league. Both are incredible schools; you will receive a great education at both ; you will make great contacts at both. But each has a totally different personality. Where do you fit in better?</p>
<p>Well, H is my top choice, because I thrive in an academically competitive environment. But, I would be completely uncomfortable giving up a LL at B if I was not likely to get admitted to H (likely as in 80-90%, not as in LL).</p>
<p>If you were my child and had all eggs in just these two baskets, I’d encourage you to go with the LL at Brown. </p>
<p>The fact that the Harvard coach knew way back in early September that you wouldn’t be getting a LL suggests to me your value to his or her program and the Harvard community in general, may not as highly rated as you would like to think. I wouldn’t count on your chances for admission at H to be any greater than the average admit. </p>
<p>Do you have any other recruiting irons in the fire that would offer you a great education, the chance to contribute to your sport and comparable financial support?</p>
<p>I’d also advise you to change your user ID her at CC ;)</p>
<p>If H is your dream, take a chance BUT after having been thru the April(and May) of broken dreams with one child, second child went with the sure-ish bet.(Wait-listed H,Dartmouth, Tufts, Amherst, Midd)
We can adjust our dreams to suit realities, and a LL at Brown is nothing to sneeze at.</p>
<p>Your academic stats are good, but so are everyone else’s in the applicant pools. How would you feel if you have a 30% chance that if you get rejected by H ED, neither school takes you RD?</p>
<p>I think you’re likelihood of acceptance at H is pretty high, perhaps 50% or even higher. The coach’s support <em>might</em> be a huge factor, but it might not.</p>
<p>I think it should come down to what you truly want and why you want it. If you’re enamored with H “because it’s Harvard”, as so many are, then I’d suggest you re-evaluate your priorities.</p>
<p>My S was recruited by HYPS, Brown, et al and it was somehow liberating. It allowed him to realize he could look beyond the “name” and choose the school that was best for him.</p>
<p>Don’t kid yourself that H is more academically rigorous than other top schools. Some of it’s students may be hyper-competitive, if that’s what you really want, but you will have no difficulty being challenged at any top school.</p>
<p>From your description, it appears the Coach is giving you one of his slots. When the Coach said “probably”, was this after the pre-read? Normally I would give someone with a slot and a positive preread a 80%+ chance. It’s up to you whether an 80% chance at Harvard is > a 100% chance at Brown. Find out about the status of the preread and see if the coach can quantify your status and if there would be any assurance from Admissions short of the LL. I also think that with a strong app, if Harvard didn’t work out, you would have plenty of excellent opportunities in the RD round at the other schools mentioned here.</p>
<p>It’s hard to advise without knowing what your athletic caliber is and how competitive Brown is compared to Harvard in your sport. In other words, how likely is the Brown coach to keep a slot open for you? In other words, where are you on the Brown coach’s list, and would s/he be willing to wait?
Also, find out why the Harvard coach thinks you can be admitted but won’t be able to give you one of the two slots. And lastly, how strong are you academically? How strong a candidate would you be without coach’s support?</p>