<p>midatlmom,
- Yes, I agree. </p>
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<li> I think it is logical and true that athletic transfers for competitive purposes are not rare in Division I athletics (eg, look at the ND quarterback just this past week). Very small numbers of athletic transfers significantly impact the graduation rates. Consider:</li>
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<p>Stanford’s overall graduation rate is 95%, student-athlete rate is 89%, difference of 6%.
Do you realize that that is equal to only 6 student-athletes in Stanford’s freshman class. </p>
<p>The same huge potential impact of athletic transfers holds true for the other top privates. </p>
<p>Duke (difference of 2% = 2 students)
Northwestern (difference of 3% = 3 students),
Vanderbilt (difference of 9% = 5 students)
Notre Dame (difference of 10% = 9 students) </p>
<p>Are you maybe being a little too quick or harsh in judging the relative graduation rates of student-athletes to the overall student populations at these schools? Frankly, given the nature of highest-level Division I athletics, I find it remarkable how well these schools retain and graduate their student-athletes.</p>
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<li> I don’t believe the admissions standards for Ivy athletes differ much from the standards applied at the top academic colleges that also offer Division I scholarships. Do you agree or do you really believe that the student-athletes at the top privates (Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame) are significantly different (ie, worse) than those of the non-HYP Ivies?</li>
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