Yale vs Stanford (with a 50% athletic scholarship)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
21

<p>Maybe the OP applied SCEA to Yale but RD to Stanford? Perhaps his or her Stanford application was simply reviewed and acted upon earlier, even though the application was RD? Seems like that would be okay.</p>

22

<p>Most probably OP did not violate any admissions rules. To get an offer from Stanford one must submit a full application for review. It does not have to be EA. On the other hand accepting a LL offer from Yale while continuing recruiting process elsewhere is not ethical. It violates the Ivy League recruiting guidelines, specifically the part that states that both athlete and the coach should behave with integrity. But according to these rules commitment is not a requirement for obtaining a LL.
The ethical approach would be to tell the Yale’s coach that recruit is in conversation with Stanford and ask for the extension of the response. It would be up to Yale’s coach to keep the spot or move on. It would be risky for the recruit. To continue shopping around with a LL in the back pocket is much safer but not ethical.</p>

23

<p>@Planner: If the OP applied RD to Stanford, and Stanford notified him or her of their acceptance prior to the RD acceptance date, that would be unethical on Stanford’s part and open themselves up to criticism both from other colleges and applicants. The entire applications process would then become a free-for-all.</p>

24

<p>^ Excellent advice in @gibby post #19. The Yale coach will be understandably unhappy, as Yale coaches are given less slots than Ivy League rules allow, and he’s wasted one of those precious slots. On the other hand, if the OP were to withdraw their Stanford application, it’s more likely that the Stanford coach can recover their slot.</p>

<p>Either way, the OP should clean up this mess immediately.</p>

25

<p>@CCDD14 -

The OP applied to Yale SCEA and also applied to Stanford. Whether or not the Stanford application was REA or RD is immaterial. By applying to Stanford they violated the Yale SCEA agreement.</p>

26

<p>@sherpa: Not so–students are free to apply RD at any time (including in the fall, before hearing from the SCEA school) to any school when they’ve applied SCEA. There are many more restrictions, though, about applying under an early plan anywhere else.</p>

<p>@gibby: Interesting, though don’t many schools already do this, unofficially, with their likely letters?</p>

27

<p>^^ Likely Letters are not official letters of acceptance. For example, here’s a copy of one such letter:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Also see: <a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/what-are-likely-letters-like/”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/what-are-likely-letters-like/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

28

<p>If the Stanford application was not an early notification application, I do not think any rules are broken. It does seem strange though that Stanford would give a decision so early.</p>

29

<p>@Planner - You’re right. I’ve been responding as if Yale was ED. My apologies to the OP. Much of what I’ve posted needs revision.</p>

<p>I’ll take this slowly now. If OP applied SCEA to Yale and REA to Stanford, that would be a problem. If OP applied SCEA to Yale and RD to Stanford, that would be fine.</p>

<p>What Planner is suggesting, that OP applied RD to Stanford and got an early acceptance, is perfectly plausible. In fact, it’s quite likely. It’s been a few years, so I’d forgotten, but when my son was being recruited by Stanford he was told there were three options: 1) RD, 2) REA, and 3) a special early read/early acceptance that was only available to athletes.</p>

<p>I think the OP is probably ok. It appears no rules were broken. At the end of the day, there’s going to be an unhappy coach. Oh, well.</p>

30

<p>This has gone way off topic. To clear things up…BOTH coaches understand my situation and are being given the honestly they deserve and my full integrity. Additionally I have talked to both schools and didn’t break any rules because of the way I applied to both schools specifically using the early app read only offered to athletes at Stanford. </p>

<p>I just wanted to hear opinions about the schools not my admit process. </p>

31

<p>@gibby wrote:

Maybe yes, maybe no. From the “Joint Statement for Candidates on Common Ivy League Admissions Procedure”

<a href=“http://admissions.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2013IvyLeagueStatement.pdf”>http://admissions.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2013IvyLeagueStatement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

32

<p>@confoundedkid.I agree with many of the things already said…and, your last statement bothers me…

If you wanted to hear some objective opinions about both schools why would you only place this thread on the Yale forum and not on Stanford’s or College Discussion forum…I think you know the answer. There are thousands of kids who desperately want simply a “chance” to attend Stanford or Yale…humblebrag much? I don’t think you will receive much empathy here or on Stanford’s forum or anywhere really. It should be a private decision between you, your family, and your coach(es)…</p>

33

<p>@confoundedkid wrote -

You’re right, and I’ll take some of the responsibility for that. I’m sorry. So, back to your question but, first, CONGRATULATIONS! To be academically strong enough for Yale and athletically talented enough for Stanford says a lot about you. Stanford will bend a bit academically and Yale is forced to compromise athletically, but if they both want you, you’ve got the goods.</p>

<p>My son was in a similar position, recruited by Stanford and most of the Ivies. He chose Princeton, but Stanford and Yale were his second and third choices, but I’m not sure in which order. He went the October Likely Letter route and never looked back.</p>

<p>If Yale is offering no need based aid, then your family must be fairly comfortable. If your parents don’t care one way or another which you choose based on finances, then don’t let money be a factor.

Based on this, I’m surprised you didn’t pursue Princeton. To me, it seems like the perfect balance. But in the end, from our family’s perspective when we went through it, each of these schools are fantastic and most students who would be happy and successful at one would be happy and successful at either.</p>

<p>Enjoy your decision and, again, CONGRATULATIONS!</p>

34

<p>My experience as a grad student at Stanford, and the parent of a kid at Yale, is that Stanford (at least in STEM, which is my area) was very graduate-school oriented. Yale is as well, but I think has a richer UG experience. </p>

35

<p>OP, check if Stanford will keep your scholarship if you get hurt. Will you be a starter on the Stanford team?</p>

36

<p>^@CCDD14, it doesn’t seem to matter to the decision. If it’s about the money, at least he would have one 50% discount year which is better than zero. If it is not about the money, he seems pretty clear he prefers Yale. Having his scholarship cut after a year should not affect the decision outcome, if it is a threshold decision, which it seems like it is (i.e. 12.5% or 50% is still a savings).</p>

37

<p>I think this boils down to how much this money is to your family. If spending the additional money for Yale would call for significant sacrifice, then it would make a lot of sense to go to Stanford–you wouldn’t be sacrificing much, if anything, academically.</p>

<p>By the way, OP, don’t be annoyed that people here questioned how you applied–if we thought you violated the rules, we wouldn’t want to help you at all.</p>