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I already posted this on the chances board, but Id thought I would try it out here too...

Well, I love Penn and want to major in history. Ive done a lot of talking with the crew coach there. Im going on a visit to stay with the team and see a practice and such in October. Ive also done a "pre-read" with the admissions committee. However, since the crew team can only support officially one coxswain, I might not be the one they recruit. I will probably have to rely mostly on my own merit, but I will obviously still join the crew team if I go, even if Im not officially recruited...So think I'm in or not? Is the crew thing still a "hook" even if Im not the coxswain that the team supports to the adcom?


http://prstats.com/2009/display.php?user=athena78211

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 07:09 pm: Edit

it didnt show up as a link the first time...

http://prstats.com/2009/display.php?user=athena78211

By Regulus (Regulus) on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 07:18 pm: Edit

Your SAT I score is pretty weak but your ACT more than makes up for it. If you can, send in your ACT alone without the SAT I. If you have to reveal your SAT I you might want to consider retaking it and trying to boost your math subscore.

Everything else looks pretty good, you'll just need good recs and essays. If you do manage to get recruited that'll be a huge plus, almost guaranteed acceptance.

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 10:05 pm: Edit

bump, please help me out guys

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

bump...anyone have an opinion?

By Shaka (Shaka) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 04:58 pm: Edit

i think you are in

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 06:51 pm: Edit

I talked again to the coach yesterday to plan my overnight visit, and he said that they can only support ONE coxswain for recruitment. They dont even tell you if you are the one they pick until the early application deadline. Chances are I wont be picked for official support...


Am I still in even if I'm not recurited?

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 01:23 pm: Edit

They probably already have a #1 recruit and are holding you in case that person doesn't commit. Their #1 recruit has probably already been informed that he or she is their #1.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 01:24 pm: Edit

I heard they send likely letters as early as October.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 01:29 pm: Edit

I think you should try to get a commitment from them before you apply early. Maybe another top school may need you more. The Ivy League teams fill up early decision. To be on an athletic list when you are not being guareenteed a spot is very risky and may result in deferral.

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Thats acutally not true. No one is told who gets supported until the early decision deadline time. The coach told me this himself. The thing is I love Penn whether or not I get officially recruited, so I'll apply early no matter what.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 05:32 pm: Edit

A Penn swimmer I know received a likely letter in October for the next year.
All I am saying is, if you are on a recruit list but not high priority, you could get deferred or rejected because they limit the amount of athletic recruits. Ask the the coach if you are a top priority, and if not, ask if it would be better for you to be put in the regular Early Decision pool. I believe the athletic applications are reviewed separately.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 05:37 pm: Edit

Very often Ivy League coaches put academically competitive applicants at the bottom of their list because they think it is a possibility they will be accepted on academic merit so they don't need to back them as much. Without being a pest, somehow find out how low down you are on the list.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 05:45 pm: Edit

It is most likely that you will not be accepted at Penn unless the coach backs you. You need to be outstanding in some way whether it's academics, athletics , music, legacy, or a minority. It is very competitive to get into any Ivy. Your extra-curriculars, grades and ACTs are excellent but so are many others.
Focus on getting better at your sport... this is what could get you in.

By 80drofnats (80drofnats) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 06:29 pm: Edit

i also think that you won't get in without being recruited, for the same reasons

By Bartoastt (Bartoastt) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 08:21 pm: Edit

I have an unofficial overnight visit planned in october, thats when the crew coach said he would talk "strategy" with me then. I dunno, so far he's been incredibly nice about my chances and my visit and stuff. I mean, the crew coach is picking me up from the airport when I arrive. So, I guess all that made me pretty optimistic. Theres no way I can find out "how high I am on the list" until my visit. its not really an issue of "getting better" at coxswaining. its more an issue of how many coxswains are applying early decision that have talked to the coach, because they can only recruit one.

By Ivysearch (Ivysearch) on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 11:42 am: Edit

Maybe you will luck out. It all depends on who else he/she is looking at. Many Ivy recruits back out when they receive Letters of Intent in October from other schools. Beware because often the coaches keep a few on the line just in case somebody backs out at the last minute (some times recruits back out in November or December when they need to sign their Letter of Intent). I would just have a couple of back up plans. Maybe you should at least contact some other coaches and let them know you are applying Early to Penn but are interested in their school if it doesn't work out.