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<p>Assuming is where this is going off the tracks. Your initial comparison was between Harvard and Cornell. Today your assumption is that Dartmouth and Cornell are vastly different. They may be different but only slightly, and not by an amount that is going to allow them to recruit hordes of top level student athletes that seek an Ivy education. </p>
<p>I still maintain there are two tiers HYP and BCCDP. Within that first tier you have H and P who are winning the majority of athletic events (I’ve given you the numbers in my earlier post on this topic). Y has put less of a policy emphasis on athletic competition, and it shows in their numbers. Cornell is third (out of eight) in athletic competition behind H and P, so your assumption is out the window because Cornell is doing rather well (thank you very much) in Ivy athletic competition. They more than hold their own is another way to put it.</p>
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<p>varska,</p>
<p>You and I are on the same page here. I couldn’t agree more with your statement.</p>
<p>My two cents…I think the better athletes at all Ivy schools are getting multiple D1 scholarship offers. This presents them with at least a couple choices and options to consider. In some cases these other D-1 offers can be less or inline with Ivy FA. In other cases it is an academic decision. I don’t think many of these top athletes are picking Ivys to become professional athletes. They realize they can get a great education, get lots of playing time & experience, and possibly have a comparable financial commitment than they would have with a traditional D1 on a year to year basis. If the opportunity presents itself to become a professional athlete after an Ivy educations, then so be it.</p>
<p>Obviously, H & P do a very good job of recruiting based on the number of Ivy championships. Our first contact with any Ivy school was H. For whatever reason they seem to do the best job on a lot of fronts. We met the H pitching coach at a winter camp in Virginia during my son’s junior year. A few months later I’m introduced to the H head coach in East Cobb, GA at an event. H was at many of the initial events that we were at, and there was genuine interest on both sides. However, when a savvy recruit realizes H is interested then you’ve opened up Pandora’s box to talk to the other 7 Ivy schools plus any other schools. For my son’s sport, I think Harvard had done the best job of initially targeting recruits, reaching out and following up. I know many people with similar stories about H recruiting in my son’s sport. This may explain why they do so well in athletics. Just a thought.</p>