<p>My D is starting to be told that she will get OVs. She has provided these schools with her tests & transcripts-- does that mean that she has been given a "green light" from admissions-- the coaches didn't say anything about that-- just that they want to have her back for an official visit in the fall. </p>
<p>How many OVs do coaches give out relative to the number of LLs on offer? Is the OV more a final look by both parties that if it goes as expected would result in an offer or are they offered to those on the "B" list as well?</p>
<p>I think it varies from school to school and sport to sport, but generally speaking they will bring out more kids for OVs than they have LLs. The fact that she’s been offered the OV is an indication that admissions considers her academics to be in range for admissions. </p>
<p>Coach will have his list of the top kids he’d like to get, but of course he probably won’t get them all and may end up drawing from his B list.</p>
<p>My experience is that Official Visits were only offered to recruits after a verbal commitment between the coach and the athlete, and also after Admissions had said yes to the mini-app. But this is going to vary by sport and by school – </p>
<p>My son was verbally committed, and then did a real app for ED admission and received a likely letter.</p>
<p>Very much depends on the sport… But yes, if you’ve been invited on an OV, then you’ve passed admissions! Coaches won’t waste time/money on a kid they can’t get in. </p>
<p>Visits are offered to the B list, but those people are generally scheduled later, or have to sit and wait until the coach has worked through making offers to their A list. However, many people will be on an A list at a school, go on a visit, and find absolutely no chemistry - therefore no offer will be made. So yes, it is kind of a second look for both parties, but in my opinion, OV’s are extremely enlightening. However, some people on the B list may show up, have amazing chemistry with the team and with the coaches, and then have an offer made because of that. Coaches are looking at athletes, but they have to keep in mind the team as a whole.</p>
<p>I also would like to point out that some schools pay all expenses including travel for their OV recruits – and some don’t, simply putting the athlete up in the dorm and paying for meals.</p>
<p>S1 took the train, at our expense, to one school. Another school paid for him to fly in – although it would have been quicker to drive as it involved driving to the airport, and a 2-leg flight each way with a short layover. (S1 refused to be driven to the OV however, the glamour of being flown in totally eclipsed any travel time savings, even during the school year and football season.)</p>
<p>At my D’s Ivy, the coaches specifically emphasized that although they hoped the athletes invited for OVs had the academic qualifications necessary after their preliminary review, it was ultimately up to Admissions to give the real acceptance on Dec. 15 or April 1. Please read the fine print, the coaches cannot give any promise of acceptance, only an opinion on the liklihood of a yes.</p>
<p>However, the verbal “green light” is an excellent development. Now it is up to admissions to scour the application and be sure there are no “skeletons in the closet” as the coaches say. (Iffy recommendations, disciplinary incidents, arrests, cheating reports.)</p>
<p>For her sport, there was no expectation of a verbal commitment before the OV, only an expectation that if she wanted a likely letter, then she was committed.</p>
<p>OVs haven’t “passed” admissions at the highly selective LACs(NESCAC). They meet certain general criteria. An OV is not an assurance of admission.</p>
<p>There are MANY more OVs than slots at these schools, depending on the sport-Midd, Amherst and Williams all had about 4 times as many athletes as “slots” for OVs in swimming, anyway.</p>
<p>An OV is chance for the team to meet the athlete, and see how the fit is on both sides.</p>