Verbal commitment- how secure?

[h2opoloivyleague]

Hi guys I verbally committed to Princeton for waterpolo. The coaches will be supporting my application but I know that a likely letter is not 100% sure. The coaches said my SAT is good enough but I don’t have subject tests. They said this isn’t a problem but I am still a bit concerned. And my C freshman year but they will probably understand because I have been a straight A student since. Thoughts?

[gibby]

http://www.ivyleague.com/information/psa/index

Remember: A “verbal commitment” by a coach is not an offer of admission, as only the Admissions Office has that authority. An Ivy League coach can only commit his or her support in the admissions process.

In other words, it’s not a done deal until you receive something in writing from Admissions.

[h2opoloivyleague]

I understand that. I’m asking if it is unlikely for admissions to reject a student even if GPA and SAT are in a good range for athletes accepted.

[gibby]

I don’t know how recruiting works on the Water Polo team, but I imagine it’s similar to the Football team – only with less slots. Athletic recruits are divided into bands:

http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2010/12/getting-in-athletes-road-to-admission/

recruits are divided into four Academic Index bands: At least eight players must fall into the top band, which ranges from a perfect 240 to one standard deviation below the average for admitted students. Twelve can fall into the second band, which goes down to two standard deviations below the mean. Eight players can fit in the third band, with scores as low as two-and-a-half standard deviations below the mean. Coaches can also recruit up to two students with even lower scores but Lincoln pointed out that this is extremely rare.

So long as your GPA and SAT are within the top three bands, you should be okay.

[h2opoloivyleague]

I have a 206 Academic index, which is in the second highest band

[Ohiodad51]

The band system doesn’t apply to watercolor. It is just for football. Generally speaking, if the academic preread came back unqualified lay positive, and there are no negatives in your application that the admissions folks did not see when doing the pre read (recommendations, essays,etc) you should be in good shape to get a likely letter.

[gibby]

FWIW: Here’s one family’s experience with waterpolo recruiting at Princeton: http://www.recruiting-101.com/2014/08/13/ivy-league-athletic-recruiting-insider-qa-part-1/

[T26E4]

You have a near perfect GPA and coach has already said your SATs were good enough. I understand the anxiety but c’mon – if you’re not getting in, no one is. Congrats. I think you’ll be fine.

[Cantiger]

My son was class of '16 and a varsity athlete at Princeton. Lots of recruited athletes never receive likely letters and are admitted none the less. Our understanding is that likely letters were reserved for those qualified athletes who are weighing an offer from a competing NCAA D1 school and they are used to ensure the athlete has full assurance they will be admitted to Princeton if they turn down the other offer. This practice may not apply to all Ivys but it happens at Princeton. If the pre-read came back approved and the coach wants you and has indicated that they are supporting your application through the admission process, there is little to be concerned about.

[superdomestique]

As it is now late October, has a LL been received?