<p>A couple months ago, I sent an email to many coaches (D1) about my stats and my T and F history.
I will be taking the SATs for the first time in Jan of next year and I was wondering if I should report those scores to the coaches. I know I will do OK on them, but not superb. (OK as in a little low for Ivy standards). Will the coaches, who were initially interested in me, feel that my scores are too low for their school and therefore not contact me anymore?
Should I wait until I get a really good score on the SAT and then report to them?</p>
<p>Summing it up: Update them early with a low score or wait and update them later with a higher score?</p>
<p>Yes, you should. I was in the same situation earlier this year. My SAT’s were low for an Ivy, but that’s why we’re athletes, right? ahha well anyway do. Let them know that you’re going to take them again and are studying, etc. It’s good for them to have base scores. And it really shouldn’t have an effect! </p>
<p>Plus, you need to be honest with them at all times. Not saying that you aren’t, but say you score in the 400’s - you really won’t be a recruit. And it’s good for them and for you to not waste time. But again, remind them in the email about your studying and how you thought it was a good first experience, you know you will do better, etc. </p>
<p>If you have the time to do it, I think it’s good to stay in touch with coaches, especially if the scores aren’t so low they rule you out altogether, and you can let the coach know you’ll be taking them again, maybe with more prep. My son had decent scores from taking SAT/ACT tests cold in Jan. and Feb. '09 and had plenty of coach interest then, but scores from Fall '09 after a few weeks of prep in the summer really made a difference. The stronger an athlete you are, the more leeway there’ll be in terms of test scores/grades provided you’re above a minimum cut-off that may exist. I know of at least one athlete who’d gotten the attention of a coach from a top DIII school, who was told apologetically by the coach after she’d sent a transcript in that the coach wouldn’t be allowed to recruit her because she had a single C in her record (the player is now happily playing for a fine DI school, so it didn’t end badly). So, keep the grades up, too!</p>
<p>What is considered a “low” score so that coaches will rule you out right away? Anything below 2000?
I am looking at Ivy and similar schools such as Duke.</p>
<p>Jumper: this is anecdotal, but a friend’s son was told by an Ivy coach that breaking 2000 and having at least one score over 700 would be desirable. Of course, the Ivies have to deal with their Academic Index, so there really can’t be a blanket statement about a floor for SAT/ACT scores. And again, the stronger an athlete you are, the lower you may be able to go scores-wise. At a couple of my son’s schools (top 10 DIII LACs), the coaches had him submit transcript, test scores and a summary of activities and upcoming senior year courses so they could get an early read from Admissions on whether it was worth everyone’s time to continue the recruiting process. This can be helpful. If you look at the schools’ web sites and see what kind of scores their students come in with, you can see whether you’re in the ballpark. I’d definitely say that first-time scores in the mid-600s on CR and M wouldn’t rule you out, and, you’ve got nothing to lose but your time in order to contact coaches. Even then, if your scores are lower than they want to see and they tell you that or don’t respond at all, just get back in touch when your scores go up.</p>
<p>Agree with Royal on this. Once coaches took a look at some film they asked for a complete transcript (doesn’t need to be official) and we also sent an athletic resume that had a number of stats, awards, academic honors, etc.</p>
<p>Royal-
When you say to look at the scores their students come in with, does that include the non-athletes?
My sport is Track and Field. I’m guessing it would be harder to get recruited? And I’m not like the top in the nation…so that equals a pretty high SAT score! OH NO! :0</p>
<p>Hi Jumper. You’re either going to make the coach’s list for athletics or you’re not. And he’ll rank the list by athletic ability. The academic piece is secondary for him, but will be a deal breaker if you can’t make the standard the admissions office chooses. So if you just aren’t good enough to make the team, having good academic scores isn’t going to get you recruited. There is a match for you out there. Your job is to find it! Keep asking questions! You’ve got a good “jump” on things. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>And in your last post, are you asking how athletes are compared to the stats of the student body at large? Yes, you should be looking at the scores and GPAs of the admitted students. If you are far off those numbers, that will make admissions difficult, and also may mean you wouldn’t be all that happy attending a particular school. And I don’t just mean the case where someone falls short of the academic standard. You also probably wouldn’t be all that happy at a school where you are far above the academic average. Again, its about finding a match.</p>
<p>I agree you have to be at least close to accepted student stats if you want to be high on the coaches wish list. They do not want to invest in you if the work will be such that you cannot handle the load AND be a strong athlete for the team. Since I brought up the subject a while ago, it was intriguing to see how many kids were now unable to even play whatever they went to college to play because they are now on academic probation. And too, there were a number of kids who while they may have transferred for other reasons are no longer at the school where they put up some solid numbers as a freshman. Sure, some coaches will take a chance on superstars, but there aren’t many of those and all things being relatively equal, they’ll probably prefer the stronger student who will be able to handle the added pressures of playing at the college level AND succeed academically.</p>
<p>Well, as for my stats, my personal record would be in the top 10 of some of the colleges’ school records. But the only thing is, I don’t think those schools are very big in Track, hence lower times and distances (jumps). Will they not recruit as much then? And therefore, you have to be like a super star in your event to be even considered?</p>
<p>jumper, if you’re looking at Ivy track and field numbers, in my opinion, the top ten numbers are significantly lower than many (most?) other D1 programs. If you know you’d already make a top ten performance list at an Ivy, and can qualify academically, you’ll be a great addition to the team.</p>
<p>The coaches recruit, its just that the number of athletes who also qualify academically is small, so the top ten list doesn’t get changed as often as D1 schools where athletes don’t have to meet that standard. </p>
<p>Please understand, I’m not saying all other D1’s don’t have great academics. Let me be clear: some great academic institutions (including many state schools) do accept some athletes with less-than-stellar academics who will post some phenomenal athletic performances. These same athletes may not have been able to get into an Ivy, may not have been interested in going that route-feel loyalty to their own state’s flagship, for example, or couldn’t make the money work out.</p>
<p>The Ivy leagues I am looking at are not very big in Track or not very big in my events. So my question is then: would that mean coaches wouldn’t care if you could make the 10 ten performance as a high schooler? Just because they don’t care about that sport/event as much and rather spend time on another person who does an event they are “good at”?</p>
<p>If your jumps would earn team points at this meet, I think you will find some interest from coaches. For track, I would guess most Ivy’s will continue the conversation if your SATs are 2000 or better.</p>
<p>A primary goal of the Ivy league track coaches is to win the Ivy League Championships (the “Heps” referenced above.) Most years all of the Ivies send some track/field athletes all the way through to the D1 National T/F Championships. I have “inside” information on one ivy track program, and they are fiercely competitive, but can only recruit athletes who make the academic standard. If you see weaknesses in some part of the track program, it’s probably not because they don’t care about that area or don’t have good coaching, but just that the right recruiting match hasn’t come along lately or they’re dealing with injury, etc. </p>
<p>This is where you can really find your niche, jumper. Look carefully at each Ivy roster and see who needs you. Is the top jumper graduating? Is their current roster not getting the job done? Check that against your own assessment of the Ivies and where you might like to spend your four years. </p>
<p>One additional thought. You sound dead serious about jumping in college. The other chronic problem at some Ivies is athletes who may be lukewarm about their commitment to competing all four years and fade out of the program before the four years is over. If you are as committed to the sport as you sound here, be sure and communicate that to the coach. You don’t sound like someone who is trying to use the sport to get in to an Ivy, but rather someone willing to compete at a high level, but who wants to make sure it’s an academic fit. </p>
<p>Maintain contact with each coach this spring, particularly once your season starts and you can post some new numbers, as well as test scores and current GPA and class rank.</p>