<p>I'm a recruited athlete in a small, non-revenue sport. I submitted my early application to a non-ivy with the coach's full support and the understanding that there was no commitment to attend if admitted because of the uncertain status of the program next year. Last week, an ivy coach I've been in contact with told me to get everything in so he would "have it in case we need it." Not a problem, since everything was ready to go. This week, he told me that he had sent out all of his likelies, but was asking admissions for more. He also told me that my application would be "supported" if he couldn't get me a likely.</p>
<p>I have a couple of questions here. What are the odds that he will get more likelies from admissions? How much "support" can I realistically get if I do not get a likely? </p>
<p>My stats are pretty strong: 2300 SAT, 4.3W GPA. Athletically I had offers from other ivies but passed for my EA school. This particular ivy has been my top choice for a while, but they had a monster recruiting class for my particular event last year, and as a result my event is not their top priority.</p>
<p>The chance he would get more Likely Letters: unlikely. If he can only offer “support”, then your chances drop to those of the general applicant pool. However, with your excellent scores, you have a very good chance of being admittted on your academics alone.</p>
<p>You should consider contacting the other coaches immediately to see if they are still interested in you for regular decision. Explain the situation, they may have new recruiting needs by now. The process is always in flux, until May 1st! Good luck!</p>
<p>In athletics, a coach I know told me until you have something, you have nothing. By that he explained, that a good coach has as his/her individual goal to win (regardless of sport). Coaches never, never stop recruiting! Once they fill their known needs (and use up their slots with admissions), they move on to insurance insuring for injuries; insuring for players who decide that the college athletic life is just too hard to combine athletics and a life; insuring for lack of performance, etc. If you let them, they will try to keep you on the hook until well past fishing season ends! Especially if you are trying to jump into their boat. </p>
<p>(Reminds me of a story attributed to Bear Bryant the Alabama football coach who advocated a no limit number of scholarships. He justified his position by reportedly saying, If I could give 1,000 scholarships, I would; 50 play for me and the other 950 aint playing for anyone else.)</p>
<p>The long and short is this: if you desire to play, go where you are wanted. If there are players in front of you (from previous years) rest assured they are bigger, stronger, more experienced and have the leg up in starting. Barring injury, loss of desire, unexpected drop in performance, you will be working just as hard to simply make the team; only to sit by and watch during matches/games/meets. If you have competed thus far in life, becoming a spectator cannot be your goal.</p>
<p>My opinion only: move on; believe it or not there are many perfect fits (academic, social, athletic) waiting for you.</p>
fauve, just curious about this point: does “support” mean that the coach wants the player but cannot use a LL/tip/etc. on the player? If so, what use is “support” if it essentially means the athlete receives not even the slightest admission boost? Or is it more like “support” meaning that if the athlete is already well-qualified academically, he/she will get in? Kind of seems pointless if “support” provides, well, no support.</p>
<p>Yes, from our experience, “support” means the coach would like to have the player, but does not have room on his “list” of likely letter level recruits. As to whether support can tip the scales in the admissions department, that seems to be a mystery- adcoms can go either way. The coaches want to offer some hope to the recruits, so “support” seems to be a vague enough offer to cover all the bases (admit or deny). It basically takes the situation out of the control of coaches and throws it back into the lap of the athlete & his/her application.</p>