<p>Recently have been offered an official visit to a top 3 ivy league school for rowing (prefer not to state specifics), the coach has called me and flat out said we're interested in you if you are interested in our school. I have a 6:34 erg time and major regatta results. Also said he would support my application if I want to go there. I'm Canadian have a 4.0GPA, only 1890 SAT score, lots of extracurriculars and really good reference letters. The admissions liaison cleared me for recruitment for now he said, and that they want me on board. Do I actually have a chance? I realize my SATs are low, but I have heard that international athletes aren't expected necessarily to be as high and that if they want you they can get you... Let me know what you think. He has already asked me if their school is where I want to be, and said he hopes so. Also mentioned that he thought I was a perfect fit etc. Basically, at this point if the coach wants me like he says he does could I get accepted despite the relatively low SAT?</p>
<p>That was the question…despite my low SAT scores. I don’t think at this point they are going to get any higher… Even with them the coach seemed very eager to recruit me and he said the admissions liason approved me for now. He said he would support my application, and after I asked how that would affect my chances he replied “it would give you a strong chance at admissions”</p>
<p>This is entirely my opinion and not based on facts, but I would think they would want better SATs from applicants from certain sports (golf, rowing, tennis, squash) than others (basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse). FYI, I was on an Ivy crew team many, many moons ago.</p>
<p>I’m a little confused, if they definitely want you won’t they give you a likely letter? I thought if they wanted you then you would get the letter and it would be all taken care of. No?</p>
<p>Livesin Hobbiton</p>
<p>A potential recruit has to pass admissions…with full application, test scores, etc…and at HYP they want 700s across the board for non helmet sports.</p>
<p>In our experience the likely letter is handled After All of the potential recruits provide full info to admissions and then they are offerred OVs.
At/After OVs the chosen recruits who are the right fit for the team (AND have passed admissions) are offerred a LL.
The coaches are given only a few LLs so they only offer them to top recruits after they prioritize the atheles (who passed admissions)</p>
<p>Hi fogfog, I was confused because OP said he was cleared by admissions. I thought that meant pre-read. My d is going through an ivy pre-read and I got the impression the coach would not have bothered if he thought she would not pass. She had to send in her scores/grades before they offered the pre-read. Thus my confusion. I thought that stuff was all done.</p>
<p>OP, you should go for it, but also consider another stab at the SAT or try the ACT. My d does not test well at all, yet some concerted effort produced a major improvement on the second try. We didn’t even use a tutor–prob that would have made an even bigger difference but at this point her scores are “good enough” and she doesn’t care because her top choice school is okay with her scores. I would really analyze where you could get those scores up. In d’s case she disregarded the questions she couldn’t solve (trig mostly), got savvy about eliminating obvious red herrings, and scored perfect in English. A bit of strategy can make an enormous difference!</p>
<p>^ I agree…the OP wonders about scores…</p>
<p>So OP…whats the scoop --did you have a pre-read and get cleared by admissions?
Have you been offerred an OV?</p>
<p>ask if they will send a likely letter, if you apply ED. If it isn’t forthcoming, you still have time to withdraw your app and try elsewhere but if they hesitate on the LL, it’s a red flag</p>
<p>Got the pre-read, got cleared by admissions for recruiting for now, go the official visit.</p>
<p>Coach says if visit goes well, I have a dam good shot at getting in. Even with the SAT as is.</p>
<p>Congrats Jones-- you have made great progress. Are you going to get a Financial Aid read? Please keep us posted.</p>
<p>From my experience, the coach is trying to communicate that if you apply, you will get a likely letter. When I was getting mine, the coach said, “I can’t tell you that you’re gonna get in. But you are gonna have to try, and try hard, not to get in”. But you need to ask if a likely is in your future.</p>
<p>The OV will be important.
Be humble-- as there will be 2-3x as many athletes offered OVs for each admit–and thats been cut from about 50-70 per slot who try to get the coaches attention, a pre-read and OV…
Getting an OV does not guarantee being offerred the LL…
Look for chemistry with team and coaches…as they are evealuating every potential recruit for “FIT”.
FIT of the school is everything—and consider if the school is a match without your sport (burnout/injury)</p>
<p>Yes I have gotten a financial aid pre-read, and the OV is happening in September. Basically he said he has some spots where he can distinguish applications and he hasn’t decided who he is going to use them on yet, but I am pretty close to the top of the recruiting list and if everything goes well on the visit in September, it is time to get excited because if he distinguishes me then I have a dam good shot of getting in.</p>
<p>Seem legit?</p>
<p>I guess I will ask about a likely letter when I go down in the fall.</p>
<p>Yes, it seems legit.</p>
<p>Rowing recruits with great stats are highly sought after by HYP. Even though crew is not a helmet sport, the number of top recruits is limited by the shortage of HS level rowing programs across the country.</p>
<p>Harvard often has many Brits, Aussies and Canadians on their rosters, many whom continue onto to Olympic level competition.</p>
<p>Your scores, as indicated by the coach and pre-read, are fine. Depending on the competitiveness of the other top recruits, you have excellent chances. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Yes, at some point do ask for the likely letter, my experience with both sons (not crew), was that the coach was very clear about whether or not he would get it for us. this was the case with all the ivies. and yes, your fit with the team matters; they usually meet after ova’s to discuss the candidates and do put in their .02’s</p>
<p>good luck! it’s an exciting time to be in your position</p>
<p>Thanks, hopefully all works out!</p>
<p>Couldn’t help but jump in since my son is going throught the exact same process now. He just got his first OV from an Ivy and has about the same stats as you. BTW are you lightweight or heavyweight?</p>
<p>lightweight</p>