<p>Actually, ivy league schools do have T&F programs. It is what they are known best for (as far as being competitive with larger conferences). The ivies cannot give out athletic scholarships, but they do create scholarship packages for good athletes. </p>
<p>Top 20 schools do give preference to top athletes. I was one of them. I had a friend who was recruited by Penn to play lacrosse, but only had an 1150. He had to raise his score by 50 points to get in. Keep in mind, he was a good, not great, lacrosse player. If a top bball recruit or McD all-american wanted to attend one of these schools, that minimum score of 1200 would definitely be decreased by 100 to 200 points.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, athletics are extremely important to these schools. Ask any ivy league athlete how important the heptagonal rivalry is between the schools. This is the outlet to the outside world for them. Why do you think schools like Chicago, Wash U, Pomona and Amherst are unknown to people outside of the world of academia? If they were D1 and were able to recruit with scholarships then I guarantee they would be as well-known.</p>
<p>“they go to D3 even D4 schools thinking they can”…D4 schools do not exist. D1, D2 and D3 are the three divisions for 4 year schools…2 year schools have smaller conference like the NAIA, but a division 4 does not exist.</p>
<p>As far as Berkely goes, it may be a top academic institution, but like UMich it is also one of the largest schools in the nation that places a great deal of importance on athletics. Watch a Cal football game on tv and see how many people attend that game. That revenue from attendance is exactly why they are able to lower their standards for athletes.</p>