The coaches can judge academic readiness just fine - they are given pretty clear guidelines and they have an admissions liaison to help them. But academic readiness is not what get’s you into MIT. They reject 10,000 students/year that are academically ready. What the coaches can’t judge accurately are whatever the university priorities will be in a given year - more history majors, URMs, brass section in the band, a kicker, etc.
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One hopes the football coach knows his position needs. 
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Ok, maybe ‘kicker’ was not the best example… 
. The MIT coach was totally up front about how things work there - a nice guy, in fact. We had no illusions about the process. It made sense to my son to apply EA to MIT because he had his close second as a supported ED2 option. Otherwise, he would have passed.
I agree with this and “heard” something similar but you’re talking about a couple like 2 out of 20 maybe they can give an extra push to,
No one suggests that academic readiness is sufficient to get a typical applicant into MIT. However, athletic recruit in any given year is as much a priority as “more history majors, URMs, brass section in the band,…”, assuming they’re all academically ready, of course.
Gotta say, if you are just academically qualified, even assuming you are at the median of grades/rigor and test scores, MIT is not the school for you unless you really have a passion for something STEM, so a deferral or outright reject might be a blessing in disguise. S did an overnight at MIT and stayed an extra night with a friend from his HS on the track team. The friend was a high school physics wiz, but had to work his tail off at MIT. The night my S stayed with him, he slept in his friend’s bed bc the friend had an all nighter. S felt that a student had to be dedicated to STEM to thrive at MIT. Even the frat party he went to with the baseball team had some crazy drinking contraption.
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I worked with a student a number of years ago who was a high level athlete in a specialized position and also outstanding student. His final choice came down to applying early to MIT versus committing to an ACC school for his sport where he very well could have played for the team. The coach at MIT was very honest in that he was “on the list” but nothing was guaranteed with applying early even with his academic record and athletic talent. The student and his family appreciated the honesty and it allowed them to go into the process with a realistic view of how admissions at MIT works and to be prepared to pursue other avenues even as an impressive athlete and student.
In the end he applied to and was accepted to MIT and had a great four year career in his sport, but an even better experience in the classroom.
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That’s good to hear and encouraging he was able to balance both.
Well blessing or not D22 would love the chance. Good point that high school rigor is different from MIT rigor coupled with playing a sport. I am a little scared in that regard. Thanks for sharing your experience. My D friend at Harvard said MIT has some good parties!
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will know on 2/15! 
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Well…final update here to close out this story and fortunately it has a happy ending:) Our D22 received her acceptance to HMC this evening and she could not be more excited! It’s an amazing fit for her all around and she will likely be pursuing the mathematics/Computer science track. Getting the opportunity to play D3 lacrosse with CMS and pursue her academic interests at HMC is really a perfect combo! Thanks all for the words of advice and encouragement along the way!
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Congrats! My D22 will be at HMC in the fall as well. I’m glad it worked out in the end. Good luck to her with lacrosse!
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Mine applied to CS+Math as well in RD. She participated in their FAST program and enjoyed the whole experience. Wishing your kiddo success all the way!!!
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Best of luck!
Congrats to your Daughter and thanks for updating us! Wishing her the best success.
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Thanks for the update, it’s always nice to hear how things turned out!
HMC was the initial preference, right? MIT deferral may have been a blessing in disguise. Both great schools, but in HMC speaks to her, that’s where she should be. My guess is if you ask her in a year, she will say she is thankful for the deferral.
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Congratulations! Couldn’t have had a better ending. 
On that note we can close the thread.