Quick question: do most athletic recruits to MIT get in EA, or is it possible to still be admitted RD? In your experience, is there “more coach support” in EA as compared to RD?
I’m a swimmer and only contacted the coach about a week ago (I know, it’s pretty late in recruiting season…). I have the times they’re looking for, but the coach is suggesting that I retake my Chem Subject test to be at least 750. Thing is, I would only have 2.5 weeks to study till the Nov test date… he also suggested the December date, but I’m assuming that would only factor in RD admissions (can admissions get that score before EA results are released?).
Would appreciate any advice, especially from former swim recruits. Thanks!
It is more important to have your test scores as high as possible. MIT Coaches (any sport) have very little influence in the admissions process if you do not have the right scores/GPA/classes. I would follow the advice of the Swim Coach.
First of all, congratulations! I’m sure that you have worked hard and this is a nod to all of your dedication.
The better your scores, the better your chances for admission. So take the time to study and apply RD. Have a back up plan as it’s still not a sure thing. Good luck to u!
@CCThunderfin, my kid is also a recruit at MIT in another sport. The truth is that the coach has very little influence with admissions from everything I have read here on CC. But if you are definitely academically qualified, then I think it will give you an edge. The coach also told my recruit to retake a subject test to get a 750 or above to go along with a 790 math subject test. So I think my kid and you are receiving similar advice from different MIT coaches…must be correct then! My kid retook the subject test and is awaiting results. Coach said to apply EA with current stats even if the recent test does not reach a 750. Coach suggested that the EA application might be deferred without the 750, but could not be sure. If deferred, there would be time to retake the subject test for the RD round. I believe coach support is the same in either round. Maybe a recruit is more likely to be deferred than rejected in order to give time to get a subject test score increased? Pure speculation on my part…but that might be a benefit to being a recruit however so slight that advantage might be. Coach told my kid years ago to be prepared to retake tests. Hope this helps!
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. @Sam-I-Am that’s interesting, the swim coach told me to wait until RD to apply… makes sense though since I need a month to study for the SAT chem subject test.
Another question-- for any past swim recruits (or recruits for other sports except crew or basketball) that were successful in getting admitted to MIT, was your ACT science score over a 34? My composite is fine, but my science is a 33 and the coach said if I have time I should take the ACT again to bring my science to a 34. I just don’t know if I should focus more time on improving my SAT Chem subject test or spending equal amounts of time on both tests… Thanks!
Although in general at MIT coaches appear to have little or no say, that’s not true in swimming. I have seen 30% to 50% of the recruits get accepted. It’s also obvious that the swimmers the coach really wants, do tend to do better than that. If I was you, I would do everything the coach asked to show how committed you are. Actually retaking the tests may be even more important than raising your scores. Good luck!
If swimmers do get accepted at a seemingly higher 50% rate, the previous replies seem to infer there is something about the swimming program and/or coach that play a role in it.
I would argue it’s 100% due to the swimming applicants themselves. If someone has evidence to prove me wrong, please do share it as I welcome learning from it.
@jpm50 I don’t think you’re wrong either. The swim recruits are probably a bit special since they often win the MIT scholar athlete of the year awards. Also at the NCAA championships they often get the award for top students (based on GPA). Still my son had everything needed in an applicant, but without swimming he most likely would not have been accepted. And I’m sure that’s true for most of the swimmers that were accepted. They are all qualified, but would need luck to be picked. Perhaps more than 20% of the overall applicants would fit into MIT well, but you need luck to get accepted with a single digit acceptance rate. I expect most of the swim recruits fall into that 20% or so, but it is swimming that gets them accepted.
@GrudeMonk@jpm50 I think you’re both correct. Just to add on, I think swimming is one of those sports where you find lots of talented student-athletes (compared to for eg. football where the coach is going to be looking actively for people over 1450 in the SAT), so admissions should be “better” for them, as I can see MIT having its pick of numerous fast swimmers with high scores. It’s evident, too-- the men’s swim team preseason rank in all of D# is #4… not sure if many of their other sports are top5 in the entire D3.
I am a high school freshman now. When is the earliest time I can contact MIT swim coach for recruitment? Do I need to fill out the Athlete Recruitment Form or send her an email directly? Thank you!
@aimshooter Are you a guy or girl, and could you tell me your times to get a sense of how fast you are?
Personally I’d say earliest you should contact is sophomore year, since MIT’s D3. You can fill out a form and should get a reply back. If not, I’d just call or email the coach.
MIT swim coaches might just be extremely good at knowing which students will be admitted academically and focus their efforts on recruiting the swimmers in that group.
I am 14 years old freshman boy. My times in SCY are:
50 Back 25.5
100 Back 54.30
50 Free 23.20
100 Free 49.89
I am sprinter but I also swim 200 IM and 200 Back.
If I fill out the prospect athlete form, I don’t have my test score yet.
My Grade 9 GPA is weighted 4.3 ( AP & Honors add 0.5) unweighted 3.95/4.0
I have sent emails to head coach but no response. What do you suggest me to do? Thank you!