<p>Those who rec'd likely letters - did you push the coaches to get one or was it just given? Especially interested in the Ivies. With only one shot at EA/ED, wouldn't feel comfortable without likely letter in hand.</p>
<p>also when did the coaches set up the official visits? It seems most of them occur in September. Did they let you know in August?</p>
<p>You have to push the coaches for a likely letter at most of the Ivies (may be exceptions in certain sports). S did his official visit in October. In his sport (running) a lot of the official visits come later- even after the ED deadline because a lot of the runers can't visit during cross country/football season.</p>
<p>I believe that an official visit can occur any time after school opens in September. </p>
<p>What we observed, in my S's sport, was that official visits were offered to recruits in the order of their desirablity. The verbally committed kids, and the first choice uncommitted kids were asked to visit the first few weekends in September. Putting off an official visit was a signal to the coach that his school was not your first choice. Being asked to official visit in the second half of October or later was not a good sign. Several of these visits just didn't happen.</p>
<p>We are seeing kids asked to commit (verbally, unofficially) earlier and earlier. It's putting a lot of pressure on the kids if the coaches are talking committing in the spring of the junior year.</p>
<p>Regarding likely letters -- my S got one from his ED school at Thanksgiving of the PG year. We'd been assured by the coach in August (before the PG year) that his application had been pre-read and accepted by Admissions -- but we didn't relax until we had the likely letter -- and really not until we had the official ED letter in hand. (We did have a back up school that had pre-read and verbally offered admission from his senior year that he'd passed on in favor of a PG year and they indicated they would take him after the PG year also. That was verbal only however.)</p>
<p>This whole thing is just so scary. would like to have a likely letter before EA/ED application is sent.</p>
<p>I think this is all going to vary by sport. MOWC indicates that the official visits tend to be later for runners. For lacrosse players, they've been in September/October which presents a problem for multi-sport athletes. The lax coaches want multi sport athletes, but skipping games/practices to official visit is a problem.</p>
<p>Long road ... what sport are you talking about? </p>
<p>I agree it's really scary. I saw several kids get their recruiting messed up for various reasons. Everyone seems to have come out OK though, eventually.</p>
<p>D plays golf.</p>
<p>thelongroad:</p>
<p>I had a thread on this topic that was recently revived in the Parents Forum....</p>
<p>It is nerve wracking to make the commitment. It is like a mutual game of "chicken." Hopefully you can thoroughly check out the coach at the Ivy in question.</p>
<p>It might be that the app (or at least the pre-ap?) must be sent prior to the likely letter being issued. Maybe you can send the ED ap VERY early and then, if you don't get a likely letter, deactivate the ED and go ED elsewhere?</p>
<p>Our experience: verbal committment in July. Did the pre-app in the next week (along with required interview with dean), got a verbal acceptance from admissions relayed through the coach 3 weeks later, mid-August, official visit in September,and then did the ED app mailed in October. Likely letter received on the day before Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>If we had not received a go-ahead in August -- he could still have committed and ED applied to his second choice as they were still calling and interested.</p>
<p>Massive game of chicken describes it very well.</p>
<p>That's assuming you can get back on another coach's list. I'm guessing the other coaches will know you haven't applied EA/ED to their school and you'll fall off their list.</p>
<p>We were advised by the recruiting coach of first choice school not to tell anyone he was committed to that school until he had a verbal acceptance from them. At that point he was to call the other coaches and tell them he committed elsewhere. </p>
<p>In our case, the second choice school was playing chicken also and didn't call to offer spot until a week before S got his verbal go ahead from first choice school.</p>
<p>And then there was his safety choice school hanging around also. </p>
<p>I'm guessing that the team sports (basketball, lax, hockey etc) work a little differently than the individual sports such as golf.</p>
<p>a little different in that they are not looking for certain positions to fill just quality players and that is easily determined by tournament scores. D has Ivy level grades and test scores, but not sure that gives her any boost over a better golfer with the athletic SAT cut-off of 1200. I know the three IVy coaches D has met with seem very interested and keep on asking for verification that she's still interested.</p>
<p>just like the non-recruited kids-- you need to make sure you have a few safeties and matches too.</p>
<p>I think I would ask, point-blank, the Ivy coaches about their record of admitted recruits and what exactly their support will mean. Certain schools and programs and coaches, it's a lock when the coach says you're in. Others it's not such a done deal. I would ask the coach point blank ... and also talk to other golf recruits.</p>
<p>Actually, if your D would be a competitive applicant without the golf, and she's very desirable to the coach for her golf, she has an extremely good shot. But -- it's OK to ask the coach what her record is for getting recruits admitted. </p>
<p>(Cornell told us that once admissions had passed on an applicant with their pre-ap and received a verbal ok, it was solid. I <em>know</em> this is not true with one of the other Ivies. Reference previous comment about messed up recruiting!)</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone. D does have some good safeties and matches picked and also several DI scholarship schools that are interested. Who know she may have that angle to play in the fall. Every single school she's looking at passes the "broken leg" test. Has lots of other things going for her - academic awards, at least NMSF, community service, etc. Yet, you all know - no guarantees with the Ivies. D feels she has one shot at the 3 Ivy schools she's interested in and if she picks the wrong one for EA/ED it's over. I don't think that's true in her case, as there are several Ivy teams that always pick up at least one recruit in the RD round.</p>
<p>There is one Ivy that is notorious for NOT getting recruits admitted- in several sports. You can PM me if you want more information. There are plenty of recruits that DO get into this school, but it seems that most of the Ivy recruit horror stories I hear involve one school.<br>
The Colgate coach in my son's sport had a really good relationship with Admissions (the coach had been there a long time) and told us he wouldn't even ask a kid to apply ED if admissions hadn't just about guaranteed admission. He also acknowledged that a lot of Colgate's recruits take their first shot at an Ivy, and if it doesn't work out, they are welcome to apply EDII to Colgate and the coach will support the kid.
Part of the reason distance runners visit a little late is so they can nail some fall cross country times (except in my son's case, since he was injured all season).</p>
<p>the longroad - girls golf from my understanding is one of those sports where there are sometimes scholarships that are not used because there are just not enough players. would there be anything wrong with you and your d letting the coaches know now that you are working on her official visit schedule and would like to know if they intend to offer an official visit...........and if so, what date is best? if they drag their feet......you'll know there are other recruits ahead of her on their list. are you and she planning to do some unofficial visits over the summer? that might be of help too in the process.<br>
your d can also let them know that she is in the process of narrowing her list of schools and would like to know where she is on their list of recruits. imo, best to move forward and focus on the schools that sincerely want her to join their program rather than being strung along which can sometimes be the case. by now, i'd think, the coaches are also working on narrowing their lists as well.</p>
<p>s indicated in the spring that she would be asked on an official visit, but that could all change. The coaches start calling July 1 and, from what I understand, don't narrow down their list until August. From posts I've read on this board, even getting an official visit or being at the top of the list, doesn't mean too much. I guess she'll just have to keep asking questions and read between the lines and hope she's guessing right.</p>
<p>Oops should read 3 ivies indicated she would get visits.</p>