@Ohiodad51 , then I misunderstood your post. Team AI does exist and recruits can ask the coach where they stand relative to this number. Actually, quite a legitimate question if you are getting an early offer before the official pre-read.
I’d watch a little Ivy softball before defending them too much against the top NESCACs.
If you have offers from schools like UM as well as Ivies that is a great situation to be in. I think the choice comes down to perspective. Our son was recruited to play football by all the Ivies and some mid-majors. On the radar of schools like UM and Stanford and attended camps. We were clueless on the whole recruiting process so we ended up using a consulting firm that specializes in placing athletes at elite academic institutions. Service was not inexpensive but it was extremely valuable and more than worth the investment,. Our son now attends an Ivy, receives a generous financial aid package, and it is a perfect fit for him. One great piece of advice our son got during the process: “If you break your leg on the first day of practice and can never play again, where would you like to be?”. Obviously the Ivy alumni network post-college is a huge advantage - - although schools like UM, ND have great alumni networks as well. If you need more info on the service we used PM me, but just know they are highly selective and not inexpensive. Good luck to you in the process - sounds like you have some great options.
Cleoforshort- "In my D’s sport there is one pull per year on the Ivy teams she looked at. She was more than Ivy qualified academically but not athletically for that one spot. I’m pretty comfortable saying that the kid who got the pull was probably a lot better at the sport but there is a small chance she was as academically gifted. Coaches, even Ivy coaches will recruit the best athlete they can get away with academically because that’s what their jobs depend on - winning. D hit the sweet spot as far as choosing a school, great academics and a strong team that she was able to compete with. D was actually deciding between two sports and was told by at least four coaches for her two sports that they wanted her but couldn’t use their pull, however if she got in the school she would be on the team and compete. Once she made her choice she was contacted by a service academy coach to see if she would change her mind and go there. She said “no thank you.”
Sounds like an amazing kid. I am assuming based on your comments she didn’t wind up going Ivy, is that right? Given as you indicate she had the academic credentials stand alone, why didn’t she go Ivy and compete as the coaches suggested? Just wondering how that decision worked as I know several kids under the same scenario who were accepted based on academics but had successful Ivy sports careers having competed for team spots once they matriculated.
Congratulations to her either way on what sounds like some amazing achievements and overcoming some challenges along the way.