Yes I understand that academics are valued at the D3. I was answering a question as to why the Ivy. She prefers D1 but wants a strong academic school too. The other strong academic schools outside of the Ivy League she is not fast enough to be recruited. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.
Regarding the question about how likely she would get in on her own - it’s a reach. She is above the AI average for the team but not without the sport I think it would be very tough to gain admittance. Hence my feeling she should take the sure thing.
She was picky about the Ivys she liked. She may have gotten an offer at another had she indeed cast a wider net. She focused on the schools she liked and then the programs/coaches she liked at those schools.
She did have many NESCAC opportunities in the summer. She didn’t love the NESCAC schools but liked many of the UAA schools, hence continued with the UAA schools but not with the NESCACs.
I agree with you on the opportunities to compete at conference meets from the get go vs it taking a year or two to earn those opportunities at the Ivy.
As @politeperson pointed out he season in D1 may be quite short. Will that be as rewarding as a long D3 season? Kids get too caught up in the idea of D1 vs D3. For someone looking at an Ivy D1 vs a top D3 program the experience of the two are more similar than different.
Food for thought: There will be a HUGE squeeze in D1 T&F - kids will get squeezed out of Ivies and will head straight to top D3s. These programs will get very fast in her time.
I understand there will be a huge squeeze in D1 T&F, but I thought the Ivys were a bit more protected given they likely won’t opt in. Perhaps they will be forced to. Curious to hear why you think there will be a squeeze for the Ivies as well. I think we are already seeing talent flow down to D3 and I would welcome more for my DD’s sake if she does go the D3 route.
Because strong students who today opt for faster P4 conferences will look for the next best thing - Ivies who’s programs are well funded and no snooze. Those athletes aren’t going to just fall out of the market.
One more thought if a concern is the competitive level at D3. I understand this, and UAA isn’t necessarily the strongest conference. But if I were considering that route I’d view the culmination of the outdoor season as: conference meet (likely), last chance meet (likely), D3 national meet (maybe). Probably an extended championship season in XC also.
If that’s not a challenging enough last month then I do think D3 might not be the right fit.
And compare to the possibility of (possibly) no conference meet in the Ivy, and probably at that point no last chance meet. Of course this depends on her marks and the program. At the right programs it’s quite possible she’s a lock for XC, indoor, outdoor Heps. (Although if the coaches thought so it seems like she’d be offered full support).
What’s plan C? If she takes a shot at the Ivy, would she then apply widely, to include some schools where she could run? That’s a reasonable backup plan for many, and as long as there are some D3 schools in there she’ll probably find a place to run.
In my book that is actually plan B. Plan C is a D3 commitment with a PG year if affordable. Though a better and solid Plan B would more likely be look for a home with ED2 support. The snag is if the soft support leads first to a deferral (this is a very real possibility) and the student has difficulty moving on.
The coach only has so many LLs to go around for T&F. This happens every fall at Ivy’s and other schools. After OVs, some may not get an offer based on where they are as a recruit and other recruits above them committing.
@trackisfun1 We do know someone from an OV at an Ivy in which at the end of the visit they were told they were not getting a LL and they would have to apply on their own, but were welcome on the team. This was their #1 choice, also recruited elsewhere but applied and got in. You never know with an Ivy.
Understand very tough decisions. For the UAA school, how likely would she get in on her own without coach support?
One avenue could be to be up front with the both coaches and apply ED/EA to the Ivy first and see what happens. I understand that is a risk.
In the end I am sure it will work out. Good luck!