<p>
</p>
<p>True, they will match a completed spring fin aid offer–after the student is accepted to both schools and has solid fin aid from both on paper…(all completed tax returns/IDOC etc)
An ivy fin aid office will not match a calculator estimate.</p>
<p>D’s Ivy did match a FA pre-read package from another Ivy. D told the coach that she wanted a LL and would attend if the FA package from HYP could be met. 2 days after the request she had the matched package and a LL. All happened early October last year.</p>
<p>^ c’smom–was the finaid in oct a finaid “pre-read”…or a finaid package?</p>
<p>Interesting because without taxes and financial documents…how can they know the final numbers?</p>
<p>Our studnet’s pre-read and final package were different–in part to errors/assumptions on the part of the fin aid office…and we went to great lengths to get it corrected…</p>
<p>^@c’s mom ya i have the same question - was that a pre-read they matched or an official finaid package?</p>
<p>Because we have an older child (senior in college this year) we had already filled out the CSS profile and FAFSA. The pre read package was based on those figures. Our finances did not change dramatically either way from the time we filled those out in March of 2010 until the time we submitted documentation for the pre-read in October 2010. All said and done our “official” FA package was the exact same as our preread.</p>
<p>BTW… our son applied ED to his Patriot League college and his ED package was also the same after final documentation was sent the March after he had been admitted (non athlete). </p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>Opening of the Conversation (in which you show strong interest in THE SCHOOL): </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Thanks very much for the invitation to the Official Visit.</p></li>
<li><p>As you might imagine, I am very excited about the prospect of rowing at THE SCHOOL and attending the University. </p></li>
<li><p>I think THE SCHOOL’s program will provide me the opportunity to advance my skills and become a truly elite rower. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>a. I am fully committed to rowing in college and to developing my true potential.<br>
b. I am very attracted to the traditions of THE SCHOOL rowing.
c. I believe I have the skills, discipline and drive to really contribute to the team.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Academically, THE SCHOOL’s resources are unparalleled; two of my areas of interest – YOUR INTEREST and YOUR INTErEST – are very strong. </p></li>
<li><p>THE SCHOOL is a top choice for me</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Questions (in which you probe gently on a couple of issues)</p>
<ol>
<li> I have a couple of questions about the Early Action/Early Decision application process and would like to get from you two things:</li>
</ol>
<p>a. A perspective on THE SCHOOL’s recruiting process that would result in my submitting an Early Action/ Early Decision application
i. At what point in the recruiting process would I file the EA application?
ii. Does this happen after I get a Likely Letter?</p>
<p>b. An understanding of what type of support you will give to me with Admissions
i. Am I being considered for a Likely Letter?
ii. If so, when would it be issued?
iii. Must I wait until after the OV for the Likely Letter?</p>
<p>Close (on a strong and positive note) </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Thanks very much for your time today Coach. </p></li>
<li><p>I want to reiterate my strong interest in THE SCHOOL. </p></li>
<li><p>Are there any questions you have of me before we close?</p></li>
<li><p>All the best.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>^outstanding advice on a tactful way to broach the topic of coach support.</p>
<p>At our student’s OV,
the coaches met with each recruit separately to discuss where the school fit in the student’s match list
and they let the students know where they stood, and explained the LL process. So the coaches were very forthcoming.</p>
<p>OldScarecrow and fogfog - thank you so much. that really, really helps.</p>
<p>My only addition to OldScarecrow’s excellent advice would be to not ask about when you would file an EA app and its connection to getting a likely letter. With OS, he filed RD apps everywhere he went on officials and basically said to his #1 choice, “I’ll change it to ED when I have my likely letter in hand.” Another coach suggested that if he really didn’t care which of his top two choices he attended, to tell both coaches that he would commit to whichever school got him a likely letter first. Applying RD to all the possible schools keeps your options open and your leverage alive as October grinds down to the EA/ED deadline.</p>
<p>My contribution is a small one, it regards Official Visits. Do NOT feel bad about taking more than one OV. You are allowed 5 IVY official visits and strong prospects in any sport are usually invited on multiple OVs. So, practice your words around this wonderful opportunity to try on these different schools/coaches/programs. You owe it to yourself to explore the best options for you…and understand that one OV at school A may cement your commitment to school B. You might realize something is missing at A that was so much fun or exciting at B. You have earned the right to explore with OVs and good coaches know this, expect it and even welcome it. </p>
<p>Our experience seemed to show that the IVY schools had their “big” recruit weekends on different weekends. Our student had to negotiate a varsity soccer game schedule along with the various options the schools had available. Every IVY our child worked with had more than one weekend to offer our kid for OVs. </p>
<p>It is a great opportunity to see at ground level what a school and program is really like… and if you can go into it believing that it is your choice, then you will enjoy the experience even more. Not every kid is in the Top Ten for the US…so be realistic about your talent and your aptitude and your grades/scores. If you are a valid and strong prospect, then enjoy the dance. Be glad you get to dance with more than one partner before you marry them!!</p>
<p>Sounds like it’s going to be an exciting fall for you - this is a great forum for any questions or concerns that may arise.</p>
<p>Send all coaches frojm all visits a thank you note and tell them how much you enjoyed the visit, look forward to speaking with them further etc…</p>
<p>Did any coach ask you where their school and team stand…and did anyone ask you for a commitment?</p>
<p>OK so here’s the deal: I just got a call from the coach at my number one choice (I told her they were my number 1 choice) who said that it was a little early to make decisions about the recruited class but that they would know in the coming weeks after all the recruits visit. Another school who is a close second said basically the same thing. While I like both schools, I really really like my number one choice, and I’m concerned that I will get an offer from my number 2 choice first and turn that down and then end up not getting an offer from my number one choice at all! Ahhh! I think this is a problem that a lot of people have. What is the best strategy?</p>
<p>Quick footwork.</p>
<p>Let’s suppose in your sport each coach gets three recruits.</p>
<p>If #2 calls first and makes you an offer you tell them you need 24 hours to decide- it’s a big decision. Then hang up and call #1 and say you have a solid offer from your #2 and you will have to respond ASAP to them if #1 can’t make you an offer in the next 23 1/2 hours. #1 may step right up and make you an offer (which tells you that you were in their top 3 or so), or may make you wait until the next day, because if you’re not in their top 3, they will either say “sorry we can’t make you an offer” or they will say “give us 23 1/2 hours to get back to you” and they will hang up and call their #1 and #2 recruits and say “our #2 recruit is ready to commit so we need to know where you stand.” </p>
<p>Once the dominoes start to fall, they fall fast. If your #1 can’t meet the fast and fair deadline you quoted to your #2, you are best served by taking your #2, because you just aren’t quite high enough on your #1’s list. </p>
<p>Do not disclose the name of #2 to #1 and vice versa.</p>
<p>River is wise! Do it!</p>
<p>I consider that high praise, coming from you, OldbatesieDoc. I’d love to see others chime in with other strategies or opinions. My rule is to always be honest, but not to show all cards.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t bluff. If #2 hasn’t really made you an offer, you got nothin’.</p>
<p>I’d say you’re spot on, river. All of the emailing, phone calls and plane trips often boil down to a harrowing, (but exciting) few hours.</p>
<p>River–I really like your advice and have nothing to add…I think it is perfect.
If all goes to plan, the OPs first choice will make the offer first
…if not, this hopefully buys her 24 hrs. </p>
<p>In our student’s situation…Our student sent emails after each visit reiterating etc thanks and interest.
At # 1 choice, they asked where they were on our student’s list, and our student said #1and told them was ready to commit.
It went well though it was a few harrowing days because they told kiddo they had to see all recruits (don’t worry, we want you etc and will be so excited to have you with us etc) yet until that was done and kiddo got “the call”…we kept fingers crossed.</p>
<p>it sounds like things could go very well for the OP</p>
<p>OP I know exactly what your going through… I am also currently in the recruitment process at an Ivy for [male] rowing and it is a stressful situation. I just went on my OV to my first choice college. The best advice I can give you is to stress just how much you love their rowing program and their school and just be yourself and be honest and prudent. What I said to my first choice during our in person meeting was that I would commit to going there but if they took too long to give me a definite answer and provide me with a likely letter than I was going to pursue other options. Then in my email after the OV thanking them I reiterated that I wanted to know as soon as possible. Three days later I got the news that they are going to start getting me a likely letter (: . So its definitely good to be nice and prudent in what you say but definitely don’t be afraid to be firm in your position that you want a solid commitment from them in a reasonable amount of time. At the end of the day the communications with the coaches is essentially negotiating and sometimes you have to put a little pressure on the coaches in order to get what you want.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>(by the way…where is your first choice? You don’t have to say if you don’t want but I was just wondering if I may be seeing you around the boathouse next year.)</p>