<p>3xboys:</p>
<p>am I missing something or incorrect in my sequencing…?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>to get a LL you need to formally APPLY , full App with accompaniments (recs,essays, supplements, scores, AND box filled out which way you are applying…ED, SCEA, RD)</p></li>
<li><p>so if you must apply to get LL, your full App is in, box checked! I assume you couldn’t leave it blank and still get LL</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sounds like you got an LL without a full-bore App submitted?</p>
<p>You apply and check RD on the apps - S applied to his top three choices RD. When you get your promised likely from your #1 choice, you change the RD to ED (and withdraw apps to other schools). That way, if you do not get your promised likely, you are immediately ready to go with choice #2. </p>
<p>This worked well for us but it is true S had multiple likely offers. Even so, I don’t think I would want to check that ED box unless the likely was a sure thing. Too many things can and do go wrong. It is probably worth checking with the Common App folks about the possibility of rescinding an ED once you have applied…</p>
<p>According to our guidance counselor you can change your app from RD to ED but NOT the other way around. D sent in 2 completed apps to 2 Ivy’s last year, both RD and both before she went on her OV. After both visits and promises of LL she knew which school was for her and told the coach. LL arrived on Oct.6 and she then changed her app to ED at that school. The admissions dept requested that but she would have done it anyway.</p>
<p>You can’t change the common app on line after it’s been sent but there is a supplement which she filled out and her counselor faxed. After formal acceptance was received in mid Dec. she contacted the other Ivy admissions to withdraw her application. (She had already told the other coach that she was accepting a LL from a different school)</p>
<p>Indeed the admissions office can say no. This is mitigated by the fact that you can ask for (and in most cases the coaches will do this without asking) for an academic pre-read. This will give the coach a pretty good idea of whether an LL can be granted. Things do come up however. Terrible recommendations, which are not visible at the pre-read, may sink the ship. As a question of probability, once the coach says he is asking for an LL, it is unlikely it will not come to fruition.</p>
<p>“you change the RD to ED (and withdraw apps to other schools)”</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about LL’s, but normally you don’t have to withdraw apps to other schools until you are accepted ED (or accept the financial aid offer, if any). And normally you can tell a school to change your app from ED to RD at any time before ED notification. But check with your school to be sure.</p>
<p>Great point, vonlost. In retrospect, I think he kept his apps in at his other schools until December 15 and only withdrew them after he got his acceptance. BUT, he did notify the other coaches that he had received a likely as soon as he got it. One of the coaches that had really wanted him called him on December 15 to make sure he had been accepted.</p>
<p>Get the Pre-read, get the pre-read, get the pre-read…BEFORE sending anything, but especially clicking the ED box. Every year, there are disappointed athletes on this board.</p>
<p>We had coaches call in early Dec before ED2 as well-once he got his acceptance, he sent thank-you e-mails to the coaches who had been interested. Never know when you’ll want to transfer…</p>
<p>Seems like ages since my original post–so much has transpired over the months and now the pace has picked up with ED deadlines approaching! </p>
<p>D now has been on 2 of 3 OVs. All DIIIs. So no LLs involved. At last OV, Coach says D is one of his top recruits, will support her with Admissions but she has to go ED. D has told him it’s between his school and OV#3 which happens next week.</p>
<p>Since there is no LL, is the best we can do is ask for a Pre-read? Is that the most “secure” you can be as you commit to a school/Coach? I know there are no guarantees, but after this long bumpy ride, is a Pre-read as good as we can do till the letter comes in the mail Dec 15?</p>
<p>Also…</p>
<p>What’s the protocol? The pre-read goes to AO via the Coach? And the answer comes back from the Coach?</p>
<p>Having been through it-yes, the pre-read is the best you can get. When your DD decides, she should call/e-mail the coach PRONTO and say “I’m ready to send as soon as you get the pre-read” If s/he hedges, that is not a good sign. There may be someone else, and the coach only has a few “slots”
If the coach reports back “It all went well, of course I can’t tell you but you’re lookin’ good” it is extremely unlikely your D will be left out. BUT remember, 80% or recruited athletes who apply ed are accepted. That means 20% are not. It’s hard to take that leap, so have a back up and don’t let your D burn all her bridges.
I suggest that she also contact coaches #2 and #3 and say “Sorry, it was really a hard choice, I’m applying ED at ___, but if it doesn’t work out I’d love to attend your fine institution”</p>
<p>The coach brings the preread folder to admissions himself, so it isn’t your official application. It is your scores and transcript. He then contacts you about “how it went”. Needless to say, some coaches want your child enough to hope for the best even if the preread isn’t positive. Be sure to get a straight answer.</p>
<p>As frequent fliers and lurkers know, my S was mislead by the Williams coach until the day before the ED deadline. Then he confessed that “it didn’t look good”. The coach had used all his slots, and my S wasn’t good enough academically (test scores, not grades-had a 4.0 in IB, top 5%) to get in with a “tip”.</p>
<p>Luckily the Midd coach was happy to hear from him again, quick turnaround on the pre-read, and he pushed the “send” button a day late-they still accepted it.</p>
<p>I don’t know if he got a “tip” or a “slot” at Midd. He didn’t need SAT2s for them and his were all below 700. His ACT was 31. Williams required both.</p>
<p>OldBatsie…great advice…thanks. But basically you’re saying it comes down to the character of the coach? In your opinion–and in hindsight, what are the traits in a coach that speaks to a “guy/gal you can trust”? </p>
<p>I know that’s a broad question, but we’re getting down to the nitty gritty now…</p>
<p>Oldbatsiedoc - Post #30 is great ED advice overall for Ivy, NESCAC, or other D1 or D3. That is must read stuff for any college senior or parent.</p>
<p>What the coach says, how he says it, and when he says it regarding the pre-read, post-verbal commitment, and the ED application process is so important. Let’s face it coaches will be passing on good news, and bad news to their recruits every year. Personally, I like a coach who touches base every 2-4 weeks after I’ve committed. Currently, I know a few kids that have not heard from their D1 ACC coach since they verballed back in the summer…that would make me very nervous as a parent. All I would want is 100% honesty, so I know where to spend my recruiting time & efforts. </p>
<p>What happened to oldbatsiedoc’s son is misleading and dishonest in my opinion…there should have been clear expectations set. The lesson learned is you have to protect yourself. So even if you apply ED you still have to keep that communication flowing in an honest way with the other schools on your list. The coaches understand this, and from what I can tell they respect it. I know my son’s current coach knew that if he was not accepted ED he was going to (arguably) a more prestigous Ivy albeit not his first choice.</p>
<p>Oldbatesie–my D. had a very similar situation also with a Williams coach. Wonder if that is standard operating procedure there.</p>
<p>Hmmm. The feeling I got was that the coach wanted more pull than admissions would give him. The number of slots for NESCAC is agreed upon by the schools mutually, to avoid an unfair athletic advantage of one school over another, among other things. This coach told me “he had used some extra spots last year” because of “candidates I just couldn’t let go to another school”, and last year admissions wasn’t going to let him get away with it again. </p>
<p>One can imagine there is a little tension between someone in admissions and the athletic department…</p>
<p>My son was told the spring prior “I can pretty much pick my people” with his grades and not fabulous PSATs. He had a 4.0 in IB, 29 first ACT and it was still go, go, go-Second ACT of 31 and it’s all good. It was all I could do to drag him to other schools. Luckily, he had always wanted to go to Midd, and he really wasn’t picking Williams for the right reason(that’s a story about sibling rivalry) Then came the SAT2s-can’t remember exactly because they were so bad-I’m thinking 690,630,640-and the dragging of the feet on the pre-read-"everyone at admissions was away…I have been busy with recruiting…sick with the flu…etc etc etc.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think we only got the call because I had made a bond with the assistant coach and begged her to tell us the truth. Then the head coach called when my S was at practice, so I had to tell him.He cried. A hard lesson.</p>
<p>I will bless the Midd coach from the bottom of my heart for the rest of my days.</p>
<p>It really has worked out for the best. Sweetest was beating them in his event at NESCACs.</p>
<p>**It really has worked out for the best. Sweetest was beating them in his event at NESCACs. **</p>
<p>I just love a happy ending! ;-)</p>
<p>Thanks Fenway-tho as I’ve said, I’d trade it all for baseball(don’t tell him that!)</p>
<p>And the worst line from the said coach:“I’d call the Midd coach and tell him to take your S, but I don’t want him competing against us!”</p>
<p>You all are killing me here. Playing into my greatest fear here. How do you know who to trust. Would you agree that tenure/length of time in the position of the Coach would count for a lot? I would imagine a Coach who’s been in place for 20+ years is one who carries a lot of influence in AO? For my D, it might come down to the young brash coach (D reads as exciting!) vs. the older, wiser coach (D reads as potentially boring!).</p>
<p>intlprepmom.</p>
<p>The truth is you can’t trust any coach or college 100%. You can protect yourself by understanding where your daughter is most wanted and needed, and keeping in touch with schools that are interested in her. Your daughter (and you) should have the best read on this overall. You are closest to it. Which college offers the academic program most suited for her major? Financial Aid? Which coach wants your daughter for his program the most? Who has been the most responsive, and genuine? Who has been the most forthcoming with information, and willing to help? Who does your daughter want to spend 4 years being coached by? </p>
<p>We were just like you 2 years ago, but when my son thought through it and analyzed all the data there was only one #1 college for him. As parents, we asked him “why” xyz university? He had all the answers both for academics and athletics, and his gut was telling him this is the place for him. We were very excited because he turned down some incredible offers and schools in the process, so we knew he was comfortable with is decision. It may be that your daughter knows the answer but she hasn’t stated it yet. Yes, it is a little bit of a leap of faith. But, if you’ve done your research and listen to your daughter, you will be fine.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>The pre-read has begun! Veterans: how long does this process usually take? D3…top LAC.</p>
<p>You should have heard by now.</p>