Potential to be recruited by Ivy Leagues?

Athletic Recruits
1

I am a grade 11 (Junior) student in Canada. I swim competitively and would like to be recruited by an sort of university that ranks well in academics (particularly in business) in America. I am open to swimming in any division, as academics are my top priority. Other than Ivy League, I am also looking at MIT and Chicago, as they have extremely strong academic programs.

Here are some of my LONG COURSE times:
200 Fly: 2:08.48
100 Fly: 59.30
200 Free: 1:58.67
400 Free: 4:15.99
1500 Free: 16:42.20
200 Back: 2:14.33
200 IM: 2:14.99
400 IM: 4:36.72 (short course…roughly 4:09 converted in yards)

I am a student in the International Baccalaureate program and will be doing IB exams soon. I am expecting a level 7 for math (97-99 converted), and a level 5-6 for french (92-96 because my current mark of 96 in the course will convert me to the highest end of a level 5 if I do indeed get a 5). Currently, I have a converted 93 in SL Physics (low level 6) and a converted 99 in HL Economics (high level 7). My grades in the previous semesters were drastically worse, as I did not have conversions. They were in the mid-high 80s in grade 9 and 10.

My EC profile other than swimming is decent. I am an avid mathematician, as I competed in the AMC 12A (American Mathematics Competition) and scored 121.5 out of 150. This qualified me for the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination), that only the top 5% of AMC competitors write. On the AMC 12A, I also placed on the “Distinguished Honor Roll” (Top 1% in the World), and attained the 12th highest score in Canada. I then wrote the AIME and then attained a score of 7.

Other than math, I have completed Grade 10 piano when I was 13 and placed first in a competition in the Markham Music Festival. (I don’t think that is really significant though). I am also an executive team member at my school’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) with the position of training coordinator. I failed to qualify for the National competition in Chicago, but will nonetheless be a part of the FBLA next year. I have tried to start up a business, competed at pitch and startup competitions but have not attained great success in these entrepreneurial endeavors.

In terms of SAT, I attained a poor score, over 2000 but below 2200. I did not perform well as I wrote it the weekend before my school exams. However, that is no excuse for a poor SAT score. Consequently, I am rewriting it in June and hope to get between 2150-2250. I am writing my SAT II in October, for math and physics and expect to get 790-800 in math and 750-800 in physics.

Any insights as to how my EC and swimming profile would compare to other potential Ivy League recruits? How should I improve my profile? Should I contact Ivy League coaches soon, or should I wait until I receive more test scores and improve my swimming times?

2

You’re borderline, as I suspect you know, at Brown, Cornell, Columbia, and Dartmouth (probably not the other Ivies). I would encourage you to reach out to those coaches now, though, as the clock is ticking. You’ll also want to push up those SAT scores to the range you mention and then work hard to drop your 100 and 200 Fly and 200 Free times. Even a couple of seconds off of each could be the difference.

Chicago is not as fast, so it may well show interest. Ditto with MIT, and they’ll be especially drawn to your strength in Math.

You’re in the mix, but again you should reach out right away. Most coaches have lists of possible recruits in hand by June, and you want to be on those lists. You’ll be recruited on times you put in this summer. Good luck, and swim fast!