Harvard and Athletic Recruitment

politeperson
Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:01:21 +0000

Did your daughter get a clear explanation of the recruiting process from the coach that included discussion of pre reads, official visits, and/or formal admissions support and a likely letter? I’d be curious how the coach explained the role of this essay in all that.

Any other Ivy and I’d say this is a sign your daughter isn’t in the pool of recruits likely to get support. But I’ve heard consistently strange stories about Harvard in the sport I follow, and from athletes I know well. Top recruits being told they must verbally commit before coming on an official visit (that coach is now gone), others being told they’ll need to submit a complete application before being offered support, and a few being offered a letter of support—but not formal coach support resulting in a likely letter—from the coach to admissions, which might or might not help. Still others got a crystal clear explanation of the process and where they stood, went on OVs, etc. just like any other Ivy.

So I don’t know how to read this request for an essay. I’d keep the discussions going and ask more questions about the process, when they make decisions about who to support, and whether your daughter might receive support. And of course I’d contact every other Ivy coach to see if there’s recruiting interest. They usually target the same pool of athletes.