<p>Several questions about athletic recruiting, mostly related to Ivy-type programs.</p>
<li><p>I’ve heard some stories of coaches not willing to use one of their tips/slots for a smart athlete, preferring to save the slot for an equal athlete that may need the help in admission. The coach would encourage the good student athlete to apply, even ED, but not give the slot, with fingers crossed they’ll get in on their own and they’ll have two athletes for the price of one. Any truth? Any way to protect against that?</p></li>
<li><p>Or, can a coach provide a little help in admission for a strong student athlete who would otherwise qualify academically without using one of his/her slots?</p></li>
<li><p>Also, I’ve also heard that the GPA of a team is averaged each year and needs to have a certain minimum. True? Would a coach ever recruit or assist a great student for his/her academics, knowing that student would likely be on the squad but not a starter.</p></li>
<li><p>Do coaches usually encourage their recruits to apply ED? What % of slots are used for ED candidates?</p></li>
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<p>Here's my guess at the scenario (from what I know)</p>
<p>1) The really stellar academic and athletically sound students aren't that many. A coach would really be risking losing that guy/gal to another school unless he/she really went to work. Plus, the statistical possibility of rejection in the regular admissions pool is so great -- If I were a coach, i wouldn't risk it. I'd pull for the likely kids early and often with the adcom.</p>
<p>2) I don't know if teams are given X no. of spots per year. However, I'm sure that a savvy coach would try to persuade on behalf of students within reason (i.e. can't ask for 40 admits for the Football team)</p>
<p>3) dunno
4) dunno -- I'd recommend any student who is set on Ivy school X to apply EA or ED. It can only benefit you.</p>
<p>1.) Yup. If I remember my conversation with the Dartmouth coach correctly, it was something like 6 kids she could support for each admissions round (ED/RD) but I'm not certain. And not all of these kids get in.</p>
<p>2.) A coach can probably say "I want this kid" but they can't officially lend them their support if they've decided to give it to other kids</p>
<p>3.) Yup. Definitely true. Some kids make the team with mediocre skills but great academics. They might not get to play, though.</p>
<p>4.) Yes, but the ED thing is more about coaches knowing earlier how many kids they have squared away (ie if 5 kids apply early and 3 get rejected they have time to recruit another 3) than it is about reserving spaces..</p>
<p>being an athlete gives you an advantage over everybody else
being a smart athlete is golden. if anything, you'll have more advantages, not less.</p>
1) The really stellar academic and athletically sound students aren't that many. A coach would really be risking losing that guy/gal to another school unless he/she really went to work. Plus, the statistical possibility of rejection in the regular admissions pool is so great -- If I were a coach, i wouldn't risk it. I'd pull for the likely kids early and often with the adcom.
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<p>WRONG! Thats one of the misconceptions about athletes.</p>