<p>What kind of weight does a letter of special talent have in the admissions process? I’m out of state (Minnesota) and a prospective rower. I’ve been promised one of these letters, what kind of effect does it have on admissions/aid? thanks</p>
<p>They won’t accept anything other than the UC app and test scores.</p>
<p>No letter of recs, etc. considered. And everything is done electronically.</p>
<p>Maybe get in as an athelete-recruit?</p>
<p>Has your coach contacted coach Teti’s office on your behalf?</p>
<p>Coaches can add info to the file, they can add your letters of rec and their letter of request for you. DD has several friends who are rowers, at least one would not have had very strong chances to get into Cal w/o the sport. The other two would have qualified anyway, but the letter thing gets the a second look within their pile of 100 other applicants.</p>
<p>I do not know how much pull the coaches have, but I know several rowers over the past four years who have gotten in</p>
<p>Actually I’m a prospective LIGHTWEIGHT rower, I emailed Alex Trembath. Rowing is a club sport though so I’m not sure how much pull the coaches have in the admissions office. I wasn’t planning on checking out the east coast though, so I haven’t taken SAT subject tests…</p>
<p>They process so much apps that they won’t be able to read the letter of special talent. To put it frankly, it will have NO EFFECT on your admissions.</p>
<p>I suggest you focus your essay on it and mention your skills throughout. That’s the only way you’ll be able to elaborate on personal qualities.</p>
<p>club sport coaches CAN add info to your file, they can have some influence; they probably cannot get you admitted with sub-par stats, but they can help tip you in if you are as good as any one else.</p>
<p>MY DD plays a club sport, we did this, so I know what the coach could do. The coach could not promise anything and could not tell us early or anything like that the way some schools back east did</p>
<p>Thanks for that info. I know how hard it is to get in out of state- ivy like. I have a 4.05 weighted GPA, IB diploma student, 32 act 11 writing, so I’m assuming I don’t have much of a shot. I was just wondering what this letter could do, I understand how many applicants berkeley gets though</p>
<p>Coaches can and do have pull with admissions, even in club sports I think. Usually if you are being recruited (the coach is calling you and asking you to apply, etc) then your application will be carefully reviewed with that in mind. I am not sure you can get around the SAT II requirement, but stranger things have probably happened. Ask the coach specifically if he is guaranteeing you a spot on the team and if your application goes into the general pool or is processed through an athletic admissions officer like the revenue sport athletes’ applications are. Technically, all applications go through the same process, but athlete applications are pre-reviewed before being sent on to the regular committee, at least for some sports. Good luck. You have great stats and if the coach has any pull, you just may get in!</p>
<p>I just realized I haven’t taken subject tests. Should I sign up right away for the november ones? If I’m good enough at rowing will the subject tests keep me out even if my other stats are good enough?</p>