<p>M:</p>
<p>Luck of the draw. Could be anything. We didn’t dwell on it; it made no difference. “Control what you can control!” (A quote attributed to Yale Baseball Head Coach John Stupor.) </p>
<p>Evaluate many possible schools from many different angles. </p>
<p>For S, he came out of the April visits with one school the clear favorite; that school turned out to not even make his final four list. S did not really consider Ivy league schools until the April visits – and we visited more non-Ivies then Ivies for those visits. (He did not know if athletically he had the chops for that level – he blossomed late; and the weather isn’t warm and sunny every day!)</p>
<p>Be open minded and flexible. What may interest you this year (e.g., a certain program, size, location) may change/evolve over the next year. Coaches may be better suited to your personality at one school, but not at another (coaches do move around; though the Ivies seem to be fairly stable in S’s sport). Teams have different needs in different years. And you may want to peer into a roster to make sure, for example, that there isn’t an Ivy all-american playing in your position (the only position you play).</p>
<p>I am a believer that you youngins are very adaptable to a wide range of circumstances and possibities - and if you’re on this site, bright enough to make the most of your opportunities. Many schools will turn out to be great matches – you have great academics and great athletic potential. While the process seems stressful for some (mostly parents), in the end, the student/athlete will indeed find a perfect place (mostly because he/she puts themselves “out there,” seizes the moment [or four years], and makes the university the “perfect place” over the life of his/her undergraduate time).</p>