@politeperson Everything you noted hits the process right on the head. The biggest truth - “listen very carefully”. I think the next continuation would be, atheltics or not - There are always conditions that place some schools out of reach, period. I think a balanced and reasonable approach to helping our young athletes and academics along the path is the best thing we can possibly do. It will be interesting to hopefully keep this thread alive and hear the experiences we all end up having over the next six months.
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There is an article in today’s Washington Post titled “ College Board suspends plan for at-home SAT, urges colleges not to punish applicants who can’t submit scores”. So, it’s up to the schools and other facilities to open for testing to take place and not all jurisdictions will allow for gatherings of more than 10 or 50. It will disadvantage students who will be prevented from taking the SAT in the fall due to circumstances beyond their control. For colleges to limit the number of TO admissions would be appealing given the situation students are faced with.
Appalling and not appealing.
Agree DCA28. I am sure colleges will not be asking for the impossible.
So in the end, if NCAA does not require standardized test scores for Div 1 & 2 this year (we’ll see if that applies for the class of 21), and Div 3 for NCAA does not require them, and NESCAC schools who relied on them to cull the herd (many on the board liking to point out anything under a 29/30 ACT and the kid is probably a “no go” despite atheltic talent) but are now test optional - Trinity and Conn already test optional before Covid , one would think that not submitting scores is definitely going to be less of a detriment to those juniors (seniors this fall) who go that path regardless of reason - never tested or tested late in less than optimal conditions, tested poorly, etc.
Hi all. My D21 has been contacted by DIV1 coaches interested in recruiting her. She has a 4.0 at a very selective public HS with plenty of ECs. Unlike most student athletes, she started late in her sport and has recently soared in national rank catching the eyes of many coaches.
Problem is - there was a mishap on her test day (In the fall) and she wasn’t able to complete her exam. She figured it was a test to get her feet wet since it was her first. She registered for all the spring ACT and SAT’s (March-June) and of course in light of covid- they were all cancelled.
Most ivy coaches had advised potential recruits to take tests early on. Unfortunately D21 wasn’t identified as a potential recruit until lately and she didn’t know she should’ve prepared and have a good test score available or she could’ve taken another test in the late fall/winter.
Her top choice schools are ivies (which have the better ranked teams in her sport). A few ivies have now gone TO- including her first choice school. You’d think recruits would have a pass on test scores, but it seems like they don’t.
We reached out to her top choice school’s admissions office hoping to confirm that student athletes would also be exempt from providing scores. Here was their response, “While we are test-optional for first-year student applicants, we will continue to follow the guidelines of the Ivy League in regards to to testing requirements for applicants who expect to participate in our varsity athletic programs. “
Does anybody know if this applies to ALL Ivy League varsity programs?
You’d think they would be more lenient to recruits than the general applicant pool.
It’s NCAA rules that require DI athletes to have a test score, so if we are talking an NCAA sport then the conferences must follow that. NCAA did waive this requirement for the Class of 2020, but have not waived the requirement for Class of 2021, yet. Technically she can take a test thru May of 2021 to fulfill the NCAA requirement. But it’s up to the schools/coaches whether they will require a test score to be recruited, get a pre-read, or apply.
If not an NCAA sport, conference rules prevail.
Not sure why you think schools would be more lenient to athletic recruits than the rest of the applicants, but generally TO is a way to bring in more URMs and low SES students, not more athletes.
Is your D signed up for an upcoming ACT or SAT?
Also with the Ivies, there is the whole question of the Ivy agreement on AI minimums/standards for athletic recruits. If they allow TO athletes, there will have to be an agreement on how to adjust the AI algorithm.
Exactly, and I don’t think the Ivy conference can choose to be test optional for NCAA athletes (unless NCAA waives the requirement, which many think could happen, pending ability of students to get test scores in the fall).
Test scores right now are 2/3 the AI calculation!
I doubt the issue is with the NCAA requirements, the issue is with the Ivy League’s requirements and the AI. Would the coach have any idea of how to solve this problem? I have to believe the OP’s daughter isn’t the only kid in this situation.
Having said that, there are athletes Ivies might have ID-ed late in the game that now won’t be recruited because they couldn’t be seen, or can’t get test scores (both situations caused by COVID19). That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, and Williams, or Tufts, or a similar school, isn’t a bad backup. (I certainly don’t mean to sound unsympathetic, my son is kind of in the same boat).
Thank you @Mwfan1921 and @BKSquared
Yes it’s an NCAA school. I’m inquiring for recruiting purposes not so much for NCAA eligibility as she already has a score.
I thought her school of choice might be more lenient since other Div 1 coaches said she was their top recruit and had offered her a spot on their teams. These non ivy Div 1 (top 10 academic) schools already said that they could get her in even with her mid 1200 score.
I guess you’re both right that the ivies still rely on the AI.
D21 is registered for the July 18th ACT but the test center she registered at like most - has had a long history of cancellations.
Not sure if it’s worth to drive 8 hours to another state that has a better chance of having an open test center.
She might be too late in the ivy game. Most ivy coaches will have their recruit lists finalized by mid July- early August.
Wait, so she has a score already, in the mid 1200’s? Is it that the issue is that score isn’t high enough for the AI? Sorry to be confused!
Thank you @cinnamon1212
Fortunately our sport is a niche sport and coaches have all seen her compete at multiple events. For this reason she has been approached by top coaches.
For her it all boils down to that test score.
Alas.
Good luck to your son. Hope everything will work out for the best for our kids!
@cinnamon1212
Yeah, she has a score but it was a non representative score. Basically there was a loud frat party event outdoors right by her window where she was seated. Long story - she had to change rooms (after pleading with the proctor who didn’t care) which took up half an hour without extra time compensated afterwards.
So in other words - she could’ve scored a lot higher!
Such bad luck.
Yes the coach said she would need to have at least a 1400 and she might be able to get away with one in the high 1300’s.
Just clarifying…I had asked if it’s an NCAA sport, not school.
As of right now, DI recruited athletes can’t apply TO at TO schools, due to NCAA rules.
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/test-scores
It sounds like she has some non-Ivy options which is good.
One question to perhaps ask the Ivy coaches…IF the NCAA waives the testing requirement for class of 2021, AND the school goes TO (if it’s not already), would that change anything wrt your D’s recruitability? I expect they will say no, due to current conference rules, but worth having a conversation about.
Sorry @Mwfan1921 - I meant to answer - yes, it’s an NCAA sport.
Thank you for the link and advice. Not sure, but hoping the ivies’ AI requirement might change if the NCAA goes TO for the 2021 recruits.
She really wanted to compete for this school as its team has consistently been top ranked for her sport. It’s also close to home! So many pluses.
^Have these coaches given you feedback on where her score needs to be? There are a number of AI calculators online that you can use to get an idea of her current AI.
@BKSquared Seems like 1400 is the preferred minimum score.
I don’t think NCAA rules are the issue. Her score would work for that. And even if not, she doesn’t need a score to be recruited. She could get that later.
It’s the conference rule and the school’s process at issue. I’d make sure the Ivy coaches know the situation and ask if the test dates available will work for their timelines. Yes, they usually send pre reads out on July 1 and start finalizing their lists for visits and admission support over the summer in some sports. There’s nothing preventing them from a later timeline. If your daughter is a top recruit they might wait on a July test date, especially this year.
Yes, I’d make getting a test score in hand a top priority even if a long drive is needed. In the end it might not matter but right now it’s really all you can control.
Stay in touch with the coach(es), they will have the best knowledge to guide you if and when NCAA and/or Ivy League rules change.
Meanwhile hopefully your D can have the opportunity to test again and improve her score.
The issue your D may run into is that the non-Ivy schools may want an answer/verbal commitment prior to the full development of the NCAA and/or Ivy changes.
Good luck.