Friend just announced her junior DD has committed to play lax at a top school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It’s well known that academic standards are lower for athletes. I can’t believe someone is trying to argue this isn’t the case, might as well argue the earth isn’t round. Of course, some athletic admits might meet normal admission standards.

My kids have gone to a "big3" in DC. Between their two grades and various team mates of various sports, I can pretty much attest that to an applicant, every one these kids are as academically qualified as any "regular" academic student, the only difference being they are bringing a sport to the table as an applicant. Obviously there is the rare Allen Iverson, but you are kidding yourself if you think all of the athletes admitted, particularly to D3 and IVY schools are dumb jock not worthy of the academic slot.

The minimum thresholds required for admission as a recruited athlete are definitely lower at elite schools, though they don’t apply to whole teams worth of kids for the most part. My kid was recruited by Ivies and Ivy equivalents for a non-revenue sport and was told that given he had perfect grades, a SAT score ranging by school from 1200 to 1300 should do the trick if he continued taking a rigorous course load. Some of his less heavily recruited friends were told that they needed 1450+ and to take additional APs to even have a chance, but no guarantees. For this sport, most coaches seemed to only have the ability to confidently say they could get 2 or 3 kids in per class, and the rest who got in had to take their chances with admissions like any other applicant. Of course, many of the kids in that group of 2-3 had scores and grades that exceeded the minimum thresholds.

Parents who are bitter about the athletic recruitment hook like to assume that their kids are academically superior to all the athletes (and they usually feel this way about kids with any other kind of hook too), but anyone objective knows this is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

School admit students that that need not just based on stats.
1) gender balance (otherwise female predominance would be worse)
2) diversity (URM are evaluated with different standards - does not matter if they are upper income, as long as the skin is a different color)
3) geographic diversity (applying with good stats from Alaska will get you into a top school)
4) specific skills (athletes, scientist (more grad school), politician's kids, musician......)
5) legacy (continue donations!)

Since the whole process is considered holistic, why focus on "my kid has the stats but did not get in vs another kid with lower stats did"

Life is not fair and is good for our kids to learn it now.

[Anonymous]

I know talented musical performers who got into the conservatories at Carnegie Mellon and Northwestern almost completely on the strength of their audition. Grades and test scores played very little role in that process.

So, the idea that only athletes get a boost at top colleges for skills other than academics is false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 4 kids who all got into great schools because they were recruited athletes. It was worth it. And the ones that have graduated are killing it because their employers recognize the value they bring as a “team” player and the ability to deal with adversity.

So you’re in your 60s with 4 adult children posting on a college admissions forum? Okay troll.

No, early 50s with one already committed to a top school, 2 currently playing at top schools and one has been out 2 years and is killing it on Wall Street. Because I still have one in HS this forum is or interest to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It’s well known that academic standards are lower for athletes. I can’t believe someone is trying to argue this isn’t the case, might as well argue the earth isn’t round. Of course, some athletic admits might meet normal admission standards.

My kids have gone to a "big3" in DC. Between their two grades and various team mates of various sports, I can pretty much attest that to an applicant, every one these kids are as academically qualified as any "regular" academic student, the only difference being they are bringing a sport to the table as an applicant. Obviously there is the rare Allen Iverson, but you are kidding yourself if you think all of the athletes admitted, particularly to D3 and IVY schools are dumb jock not worthy of the academic slot.

The minimum thresholds required for admission as a recruited athlete are definitely lower at elite schools, though they don’t apply to whole teams worth of kids for the most part. My kid was recruited by Ivies and Ivy equivalents for a non-revenue sport and was told that given he had perfect grades, a SAT score ranging by school from 1200 to 1300 should do the trick if he continued taking a rigorous course load. Some of his less heavily recruited friends were told that they needed 1450+ and to take additional APs to even have a chance, but no guarantees. For this sport, most coaches seemed to only have the ability to confidently say they could get 2 or 3 kids in per class, and the rest who got in had to take their chances with admissions like any other applicant. Of course, many of the kids in that group of 2-3 had scores and grades that exceeded the minimum thresholds.

Parents who are bitter about the athletic recruitment hook like to assume that their kids are academically superior to all the athletes (and they usually feel this way about kids with any other kind of hook too), but anyone objective knows this is ridiculous.

That’s not lower standards. You have already met the standard, you just don’t have to test prep, tutor and take the test multiple times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus the entire SEC — no academic standards for athletes.

Not true, watch last chance U

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 4 kids who all got into great schools because they were recruited athletes. It was worth it. And the ones that have graduated are killing it because their employers recognize the value they bring as a “team” player and the ability to deal with adversity.

So you’re in your 60s with 4 adult children posting on a college admissions forum? Okay troll.

No, early 50s with one already committed to a top school, 2 currently playing at top schools and one has been out 2 years and is killing it on Wall Street. Because I still have one in HS this forum is or interest to me.

You don't need to justify to some anonymous angry and jealous person why you are participating in this discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet I can still watch Brown play LAX on ESPN. So perhaps you are just wrong about the numbers.

ESPN+ is not ESPN

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with OP. My DS, who is very bright, worked his butt off to study for the SAT/ACT and wrote a ton of essays for his applications. Some girl got into one of his top choices (he did not get in), for hockey, it was early junior year and no grades at that time. Obviously, life isn't fair, but what kind of lesson is this to learn? If you play a sport you can go anywhere, grades don't matter, but if you study and have good grades, good luck to you. I just wonder if these kids are getting into top school b/c of sports, can they handle it academically?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally agree with OP. My DS, who is very bright, worked his butt off to study for the SAT/ACT and wrote a ton of essays for his applications. Some girl got into one of his top choices (he did not get in), for hockey, it was early junior year and no grades at that time. Obviously, life isn't fair, but what kind of lesson is this to learn? If you play a sport you can go anywhere, grades don't matter, but if you study and have good grades, good luck to you. I just wonder if these kids are getting into top school b/c of sports, can they handle it academically?

These grapes - wow, are they sour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally agree with OP. My DS, who is very bright, worked his butt off to study for the SAT/ACT and wrote a ton of essays for his applications. Some girl got into one of his top choices (he did not get in), for hockey, it was early junior year and no grades at that time. Obviously, life isn't fair, but what kind of lesson is this to learn? If you play a sport you can go anywhere, grades don't matter, but if you study and have good grades, good luck to you. I just wonder if these kids are getting into top school b/c of sports, can they handle it academically?

Do you think she didn't work her butt off at the rink, and in the classroom?

I don't know what you mean by "no grades at the time" did this girl skip freshman and sophomore year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know talented musical performers who got into the conservatories at Carnegie Mellon and Northwestern almost completely on the strength of their audition. Grades and test scores played very little role in that process.

So, the idea that only athletes get a boost at top colleges for skills other than academics is false.

+1. Just spoke with a senior (violinists) hoping to do the same. While it is not the same recruitment process, there are conservatories that will pull musicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally agree with OP. My DS, who is very bright, worked his butt off to study for the SAT/ACT and wrote a ton of essays for his applications. Some girl got into one of his top choices (he did not get in), for hockey, it was early junior year and no grades at that time. Obviously, life isn't fair, but what kind of lesson is this to learn? If you play a sport you can go anywhere, grades don't matter, but if you study and have good grades, good luck to you. I just wonder if these kids are getting into top school b/c of sports, can they handle it academically?

Do you think she didn't work her butt off at the rink, and in the classroom?

I don't know what you mean by "no grades at the time" did this girl skip freshman and sophomore year?

People think that excelling at a sport is easy. So why their kids don't do it is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people are failing to understand...there are a lot of kids who have stellar grades and standardized test scores WHO ALSO play sports. When given the choice between two kids who have roughly the same academic credentials, the University is going to take the kid who can help staff a team.

There are really not that many circumstances where academics are totally bent to take a kid who would not otherwise gain admission.

+1

B.S. Student-athlete + URM.

I love the way people (falsely) assume that just because someone is URM means their scores and grades are lower. No...the whole point of the URM hook is that they are qualified by their record to get in and given the choice between a URM and a non-URM, the URM may get the nod. It is so racist to make a presumption that a URM necessarily means "let in because of the color of their skin regardless of academic record" - PP - you may want to check yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus the entire SEC — no academic standards for athletes.

They do have to get through the NCAA clearinghouse. So there aren't "no" academic standards. They might just be a little lower than an Ivy.