Background: coach promised full support, told me he requested a likely letter
Situation: has been over a month since submitted application to school, and still no likely letter
Question: What should I do? Is this normal?
When was the last time you communicated with the coach? Call, text or email him today, copy (or directly call) the assistant coach(es) as well. Did you have a pre-read in the summer/fall?
Although I don’t know what is going on in your case, it’s not uncommon at some schools that they do not get all athletic likely letters out by the early decision notification date. Definitely stressful, good luck.
Last communication was just under 3 weeks ago (edit: 2 weeks) with the assistant coach.
Yes to the pre-read.
do you have any recommendations for how to approach the email? I don’t want to come across as impatient or needy, considering these will be the coaches i spend the next 4 years with (if things work out).
Well, if 2 weeks ago the asst coach thought things were proceeding normally (did he say when the LL Committee meets or how often?), I might wait another week or two to follow up…again, I know the waiting is very stressful.
Maybe a communication next week, after Thanksgiving…something simple saying that you haven’t received an LL yet, and ask if the coach has any updates.
Did you apply ED/EA and decision day is mid December?
Yes - coach said that he thought admissions was just busy around this time. Didn’t say anything about a likely letter committee.
Did apply ED, and yes decision day is mid December.
Thank you for the advice. It definitely is nerve-racking, hoping I don’t have to find another option.
Things sound like they are in order…try to relax and enjoy this short week and holiday!
Then next week follow up again with the coach if you still haven’t seen an LL.
Do you have a back up plan, or have you applied elsewhere yet? I ask because having secondary plans is prudent…not because I think there is great risk where you committed.
Good luck and keep us updated.
I agree with @Mwfan1921. From what you are reporting, things seem to be moving forward, albeit slowly. In my opinion, waiting on the likely letter was the most stressful part of my son’s recruiting. He committed in July after a successful pre read, had his application in in September (as instructed by the coaches) and then had to wait until late November for his letter. Every time he spoke to his coach, the message was admissions would get to his sport “hopefully this week”. At one point, everything moved back a couple weeks because the admissions director took an unscheduled two week vacation in October. A very stressful time.
It is very hard to sit and wait with “all your eggs in one basket”, especially when admissions is likely not as motivated as the recruits and the coaches to get things done quickly. At the end of the day, you have to trust the coaches and the relationship you have built with them through the process. It is admittedly hard to do, but there is no way around it. I would keep in contact with the coaches to try and get updates, but other than that there is not much you can do unfortunately.
I heard that the process is extra slow this year because of the Varsity Blues scandal. I don’t think the coach will consider you to be impatient if you text / email him to ask if he has an update. If there was a problem with your application, I’m sure the athletic admissions liaison would have let the coach know by now.
I agree with previous posters that things sound good. From what you told us, there is nothing to worry about.
Here is a thought: are in contact with other rowing recruits to this school? It made my daughter feel better to see how others are going through the process with her. It might help you as well.
Early in the likely process her coach communicated to us that this year is an anomaly because of Varsity Blues scandal, and that likely letter committee at our school is now meeting less often with more members in addition to reviewing more materials- all of which would likely cause a delay (and it did). I have heard of at least one other Ivy that had put into place a similar procedure.
Ended up getting accepted! Thanks for all the help! (no likely letter ever came though)
Congratulations!
I’m sure it was a long wait, especially because an LL never came!