Ivy league Athlete SAT score?

californiadreams · 08-11-2009, 12:57 PM

Hey, I just recently found this board so forgive me if this has already been asked, but I was wondering what is the minimum SAT score and GPA for an Ivy league Athlete?

I have the talent to play basketball at an Ivy league school and I go to a really good prep school. I've been contacted by coaches and unofficially visited campuses. I'll be a junior this upcoming year and will be taking my SAT for the first time.

If I have around a 3.2 GPA what is a realistic score I should shoot for to be able to play ivy league basketball? What would be the lowest score? Not that I would be aiming for the minimum but I would like to know for practice test purposes.

I'm familiar schools sometimes bring in less talented/"smarter" recruits to balance out more talented/"not as smart" athletes. I'll be a pretty high priority on schools list and my GPA will end up around a 3.4.

Thanks for any and all responses!

3xboys · 08-11-2009, 01:58 PM

There have been lots of discussions on this topic. Search "GPA ivy" or "AI" or "Academic index" and you will find much good reading.

springisintheair · 08-11-2009, 03:10 PM

The acceptable index is usually around 1100 SAT...talk to the coaches who are highly recruiting you, they should be able to guide you in this process. However, it is still prudent to try to get the GPA higher, and do the very best you can on the SAT - or even try the ACT - be sure to study for them and PREPARE. Sometimes coaches can appear to be highly recruiting a player, however admissions can solely determine the outcome, even if you are a coaches tip or a slot in player...Be careful about being too confident about the athletic ability vs. the importance of higher GPA and scores...the competition is fierce out there...if a similar caliber player comes along with better academics, sometimes if it is an easier admission for the college and a similar athletic talent/fit for the coach, the coach may put his emphasis on the better qualified academic player...

riverrunner · 08-11-2009, 03:23 PM

^^springisintheair, well said. The Ivy coaches need players who will stick with the team for four years without floundering in the classroom. High school students who have already demonstrated they can excel academically AND be at the top of their sport are the best Ivy matches. OP, the higher your scores and GPA, the easier you make it for the coach to feel confident about recruiting you.

californiadreams · 08-11-2009, 03:36 PM

Thank you both for your answers. I'm definitely going to work on my GPA and I'm enrolled in a SAT prep class. None of the coaches i've talked to gave me a score to shoot for but instead told me to take it as many times as possible. @tuesdayair 1100 seems kind of low for an ivy, I was thinking as close to 2000 as possible. I thought I read somewhere you need at least 600 in all 3 sections. Is that incorrect?

EMM1 · 08-11-2009, 03:43 PM

1100 is on the1600 scale, not the 2400 scale.

californiadreams · 08-11-2009, 03:56 PM

oh okay, so adding 800 to that score would put the score to aim for at 1900? (on a 2400 scale.) Or does the academic index still use the 1600 scale...?

royal73 · 08-11-2009, 04:22 PM

On the subject of SAT scores: I don't have direct knowledge, but last year a friend's son was told by an Ivy football coach that if he could get at least one score above 700 and a total over 2000, he was recruitable.

keylyme · 08-11-2009, 07:32 PM

At my son's prep school (New England Boarding School), the average GPA for students admitted to Dartmouth is 3.2, so don't worry, while these schools use the AI, I am certain adjustments are made for the rigor of your high school. A 3.2 from my son's prep (and yours as well, I am sure) is worth more than a 3.2 from our local public high school. Still, try to push it as high as you can.

A friend of mine tells me her neighbor's son is being recruited by several Ivies for football and he was told to shoot for an 1800 on the SAT.

riverrunner · 08-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Here's a direct quote from an Ivy likely letter that pretty well spells out their philosophy about student athletes. This letter is signed by the Director of Admissions, and has nothing to do with the athletic department.

"You have shown the capacity to balance your academic life with a serious commitment to sports."

I post this to encourage you to spend the time it takes to get the grades and scores you want. Best wishes.

keylyme · 08-11-2009, 07:54 PM

Agreed. You aren't going to be around to enjoy your sport for long if you can't cut it academically. Going to a New England prep does go a long way toward preparing you for the academic rigor of college.

cantwaitfor2010 · 08-11-2009, 08:51 PM

I know that for swimming at yale, the website says that you have to have better than 650 on every subject for SAT to be recruited. hope this helps!

californiadreams · 08-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Thanks everybody! By putting together all your answers I have a good idea of what I have to do. This was really helpful!

UV RAYS · 08-15-2009, 02:50 PM

the truth is as long as you can prove yourself to be an above average student and will be a valuable piece on the program u are entering, coaches can have some strings pulled to get u in despite lower SAT scores

Nadia60 · 08-27-2009, 12:23 AM

My son is being recruited by Ivy league schools for football and the coaches and various schools are saying that they like to see 600 or better in each SAT catagory. Honestly though Harvard sent us a letter saying 1700+. It depends on the athletlic ability, spot on the coaches recruiting list, and position you play. A QB or WR can have a little below 1800 SAT if a top recruit and good grades. That's our experience anyway.