<p>So basically, I'm a recuited track athlete for Columbia University. I just went on my official visit this past weekend and I'm super stoked about the school...however I was told by the coach that there's a possibility I will not get in...even with the boost of being an athlete. </p>
<p>My Stats:</p>
<p>3.86 GPA (w)/4.0 scale
28 ACT
AP GOV, AP PYSCH, AP WORLD, AP EURO, AP BIO, AP EURO, IB ENGLISH, IB ENVIRONMENTAL, IB ANTHROPOLOGY, AND LOTS OF HONORS!!</p>
<p>overall I've been a solid B student, but my freshman year i recieved a D grade in Spanish (which I later brought up to a B)...i have lots of upward trend!!</p>
<p>Hey- posted a question myself but if you get a slot from the coach, that boosts your chances. You may want to ask the coach directly how many slots he has and where you are on the list for one. It would be risky to go ED without the slot. Getting support does not necessarily mean you have a slot. I know some guys who are being supported but were not given a slot because they had good grades and the coaches believe with just ‘support’ given, it may be enough to get admitted.</p>
<p>I assume you had a preread if you went on an official visit and the coach was given a green light to continue with the recruiting process. Am I correct that you are not being supported with a Likely Letter? Are you talking about applying ED? Given your stats, which are pretty low for Columbia, I would not use my one and only ED opportunity without a Likely Letter. I see no reason not to apply RD, but have a solid plan b, c, d & e.</p>
<p>Your 28 on the ACT is going to hold you back some but I would still apply. What is the worst that can happen, they say no, but they might say YES too. Just be realistic and find some good back up schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses!
What’s a likely letter and when should I get it?
According to the coach I have a 208 AI, with the minimum being 200</p>
<p>A likely letter would be issued by a coach IF you are a top recruit. Most athletes do not receive them. Likely letters can be sent anytime after Oct.1 for early action/decision.</p>
<p>If your AI is only 208, the coach indeed has concern if you would be admitted. He may keep all his likely letters for recruits who are sure to be acccepted academically.</p>
<p>The fact that the coach warned you about a possible rejection is pretty significant—be sure you have some safety schools in hand.</p>
<p>^^^ “A likely letter would be issued by a coach IF you are a top recruit.”</p>
<p>One small correction. At least in the Ivies, while a Likely Letter <em>request</em> comes from a coach, the Likely Letter itself comes from the <em>admissions office</em>. That’s why they’re important–it’s no longer what a coach thinks about your admission prospects, you have the actual admissions office weigh in, and in writing. Also, the admissions office needs your completed application (all parts of the application) before reaching a decision on your Likely Letter. Finally, FWIW, a 208 AI is cutting it very, very close, but the AI floors vary slightly across the 8 Ivy schools.</p>
<p>it is pretty important how good you are at your sport but regardless, at this stage you should ask the coach to get you a likely letter from admissions. there’s still time. get it (or get a no) before it’s too late to apply ED somewhere else. for sure you’ve been through a pre-read so if the coach can’t get the letter, it’s a red flag! don’t want you to get hurt; usually an LL is denied if you are academic superstar and they don’t want to “waste” it on you since they are limited OR you’re not gonna get in. Find out now.</p>
<p>What people here seem to be getting wrong is that OP can’t be given a LL, AND THEN apply ED. That’s not how it works. First you apply, and after admissions have read your fully completed application, then you might get a likely.</p>
<p>There is often a discussion of a likely letter by the coach before the student submits an application. For instance, if the school is ED rather than SCEA, the student would want to know if the coach is recommending to admission that the student receive a LL. </p>
<p>If the student knows the coach is not asking admissions for a LL for the student, the student can move on to another college coach and resume the recruiting process there. Thus s/he has not wasted an Early Decsion or Early Action chance.</p>
<p>yes, it’s true. no LL pre application. i meant: confirm through coach that it will come, apply asap if he says it will, give them a deadline to get it for you that allows you to apply elsewhere before other ED deadlines if it does not happen</p>
<p>Means pretty much what it’s called … an admissions office advises applicants on the probability of admission (as long as they don’t screw up beforehand).</p>
<p>And, though it is used not just for athletes and not just in the Ivy League, it apparently is used by the Ivies as a sort of replacement for the National Letter of Intent.</p>
<p>There are several differences between a Likely Letter and a national letter of intent</p>
<p>NLI- A binding agreement between a student athlete and a university in which a student agrees to attend a university for one year as a full time student in exchange for an agreed amount of athletic financial aid. The NLI is not a guarantee of admission to the University and can be voided if the student is not admitted. NLI can only be signed during specific times and an athlete can only sign one NLI. NCAA penalties can occur if the terms of the NLI are not honored.</p>
<p>Likely Letter- A letter issued by an Ivy admission committee after receiving an application which indicates that a student will most likely be admitted to an Ivy. A LL can be issued to both athletes and non athletes. A LL is not a guarantee of financial aid and current Ivy League policy prohibits the granting of athletic financial aid. A LL can be sent at any time and an athlete can receive a LL from more than one university.</p>