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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College is supposed to be an academic pursuit. The role that sports plays is ridiculous.

Nope, your kid is not entitled to a spot to any private or OOS school. The admission office thinks that your kid is not a good fit and an athlete is - simple as that. Public schools, sure; they should admit based on academics, if you paid taxes in that state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Playing a sport at a level high enough to commit while maintaining grades, etc. deserves to be rewarded just as much as the kid who fiends 20 hours a week in the lab or practicing an instrument.

I think some of people's frustration with the process is that athletes are rewarded more than scientists and musicians. (Know any juniors who are biochemists or pianists who have been recruited?)

Life isn't fair. The sooner people realize this the happier they will be. Congrats to the kid who got in early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I know this is nothing new. I went to HS with many children of billionaires, most of whom ended up at ivies despite not having the grades. Life is not fair, college admissions is not fair.

Well in 1990 there were 66 billionaires in the entire US, so I am calling bs on this: https://americansfortaxfairness.org/billionaires/

Stay away from hyperbole and you'll be easier to believe.

Yes, and four of them had kids at my school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And my senior DD is in the midst of application hell and stress. Athletic recruitment really pisses me off. That’s all.

Just athletic or anything else? What if your friend's kid played the violin and was getting a recruited? Or a math genius? Why are you caring about other people's kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And my senior DD is in the midst of application hell and stress. Athletic recruitment really pisses me off. That’s all.

Just athletic or anything else? What if your friend's kid played the violin and was getting a recruited? Or a math genius? Why are you caring about other people's kids?

I agree you have to let things go but violinists and math geniuses don't get recruited. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And my senior DD is in the midst of application hell and stress. Athletic recruitment really pisses me off. That’s all.

Just athletic or anything else? What if your friend's kid played the violin and was getting a recruited? Or a math genius? Why are you caring about other people's kids?

I agree you have to let things go but violinists and math geniuses don't get recruited. Please.

I do know 2 people who were recruited for their instrument. One had to change instruments and show they could play at the highest level in a year.

IMO winners generally go to MIT and it is considered a hook.

[Anonymous]

I think what you mean is I’m jealous that my friends daughter perform some thing at the top .1% of the nation and my daughter doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. First, I’m happy for them. The girl is very nice and her mom is an old friend.
Second, I don’t think it’s a scholarship, they definitely don’t need the money. I’m just annoyed that her DD is a year behind mine and won’t have to go through most of the college crap and stress mine is currently going through. We are deep in it right now. My DD doesn’t play sports but has other talents, none which get her recruited by colleges.
Third, she has worked hard as an athlete but she wouldn’t be in a position to be recruited if her parents didn’t have the time and money to pay for all teams and tournaments. Let’s face it, for many (I realize there are big exceptions) recruited athletes for sports like lax come from affluent families so the whole system leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I know this is nothing new. I went to HS with many children of billionaires, most of whom ended up at ivies despite not having the grades. Life is not fair, college admissions is not fair.
I was just venting because, again, I have a very stressed out out senior.

A junior has not received a commitment. Even a senior right now with a verbal commitment from a school could find themselves scrambling last minute. Athletics are effectively part of Early Decision, the deal isn’t settled until about the same time, and athletes are a pool of full pay students for the schools. If they get an aid package, it’s just the regular discounting that particular (lower tier) school offers. Top schools offer nothing. And of course, just like any ED, this limits the athlete to one school, and often not one they would have picked otherwise.

My child is a senior and is a recruited athlete for an Ivy. The likely letter from Admissions was received the first week of October. For Ivies in particular, there are no scholarships for merit or athletics so there's no advantage there.

I can assure you that the process is not any less stressful for recruited athletes than everyone else. In fact, the grades (through the end of sophomore year), SAT scores, and athletic record had to be solidified earlier to receive a verbal commitment at the beginning of junior year, which is technically the earliest for such commitments based on NCAA rules. To be clear, the verbal commitment and coach's support in the admissions process came after a preliminary pre-read by Admissions. My child's full application (essays, recommendation letters, school profile, transcripts, official SAT scores) had to be submitted between September 1-15 of senior year which meant an abbreviated timeline. My child worked all summer on essays to meet this deadline. The fact that essays about your sport are discouraged meant that there had to be other substance there -- other meaningful extracurriculars, experiences, community service -- not just athletics. The admissions criteria for my athlete were the same as for any other student. There was no flexibility with the GPA or SAT score or expectations for being a well-rounded student.

We are not an affluent family by any stretch of the imagination. Definitely working class. My family has made tremendous sacrifices (time and money) to provide the sport as an opportunity for my child. My child has dedicated 25-30 hours a week for years to reach the top of the sport while maintaining exceptional academics. The work has been put in and the admission is well-deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think what you mean is I’m jealous that my friends daughter perform some thing at the top .1% of the nation and my daughter doesn’t.

+100. All these posters sound jealous. Being top % in a sport (or at anything) is hard ass work

[Anonymous]

What a bunch of sanctimonious posers on this thread. I am with you OP. It’s called human nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College is supposed to be an academic pursuit. The role that sports plays is ridiculous.

Translation: Colleges should only pay attention, for admissions purposes, to things *my* kid is good at. If they prioritize anything else, it's "ridiculous."

Sounds like sour grapes, PP. Be better.

[Anonymous]

There are significantly more academic scholarships provided than athletic ones. Way more. And, that young lady has to apply and get in with all the same requirements as your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are significantly more academic scholarships provided than athletic ones. Way more. And, that young lady has to apply and get in with all the same requirements as your kid.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. First, I’m happy for them. The girl is very nice and her mom is an old friend.
Second, I don’t think it’s a scholarship, they definitely don’t need the money. I’m just annoyed that her DD is a year behind mine and won’t have to go through most of the college crap and stress mine is currently going through. We are deep in it right now. My DD doesn’t play sports but has other talents, none which get her recruited by colleges.
Third, she has worked hard as an athlete but she wouldn’t be in a position to be recruited if her parents didn’t have the time and money to pay for all teams and tournaments. Let’s face it, for many (I realize there are big exceptions) recruited athletes for sports like lax come from affluent families so the whole system leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I know this is nothing new. I went to HS with many children of billionaires, most of whom ended up at ivies despite not having the grades. Life is not fair, college admissions is not fair.
I was just venting because, again, I have a very stressed out out senior.

OP, just to let you know, because part of your focus seems to be on the money this family has....
I come from an area where lacrosse is very popular. The town I live in is not fancy AT ALL. It's very common for kids here to go to colleges to play lacrosse. Probably not D1, but even so, to play at the collegiate level takes a lot of dedication, practice, hard work, and sometimes money.... but this is far from just wealthy families. Maybe that's true where you are. But in plenty of places, blue collar or LMC families work hard to make their kid an athletic success, too.

Also to the PP saying how is this possible... there are 13 year olds signing letters of intent for athletics...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why colleges give lacrosse scholarships? Does lacrosse bring in money for a school?

Is all your motivation financial?