Harvard University

All of the Ivy's recruit just like any other D1 program. They go to showcases, tournaments, and other events, as well as their own camps. You would have virtually no chance of making one of their squads if you just show up. If you think you can play baseball at the D1 level and have good grades and test scores then get in touch with their recruiting coach and let them know you are interested in their program. Like most programs they will have you fill out a profile and will want to know where they can see you play. Good luck!

In recent years, at least, they have attended some of the same tournaments as other colleges. I know they've been at Jupiter recently but I can't say if they go every year.

Their recruiting coordinator once joked that they get their recruits by following the other Ivy's around to see who they are recruiting and then making contact and telling them about Harvard. It was just a joke but I always wondered if there wasn't just a bit of truth to that.

The Stanford camp and the Headfirst camps are good places to get noticed by Harvard. Most of what they need to know is if you have a kid that is within the range to get admitted. It's hard to know who is going to get in. The coach told 4thGen that he had kids in the program that did not have as good a grades and test scores as he had but he'sd also had kids with perfect grades and SAT scores that had not been admitted.

Thank you! I do have another school of high interest. Does anybody know anything about Northwestern's baseball program?

Harvard recruits as hard as all the big time power DIs. They just have to find the right kids. Joe walsh attends many PG and WWBA events every year. Nearly all their roster has attended those events. My suggestion for those wanting to know where they go to look for players... Ask them!

Northwestern - same as above

One of my fondest memories of my son's recruiting period involved Joe Walsh.

He called the house one night when my son was away. Before I knew it, he and I had settled into a long conversation about baseball, college, the Cape League, and a bunch of non-baseball topics. I came away from the conversation incredibly impressed by Joe Walsh.

For a combination of reasons, Harvard was never on my son's radar; but, after that conversation, I would have been very pleased if he'd added it to the mix.

quote:

Originally posted by 3rdgenerationnation:
Most of what they need to know is if you have a kid that is within range to get admitted. It's hard to know who is going to get in. The coach told 4thGen that he had kids in the program that did not have as good a grades and test scores as he had but he'sd also had kids with perfect grades and SAT scores that had not been admitted.

3G, what do IVIES consider as within range? Do they give athletes some leeway with regards to what are their GPA is? We were told that getting a B in a honors or AP class looks better than an A in a regular class so maybe they factor what subjects you take relative to your actual GPA. Example, a 3.8 GPA with all honors classes may be better than a 4.0 GPA with all regular classes .

Ryanrod,

Ivys use the Academic Index to gauge GPA, SATS, ACTS and class rank to measure athletes relative to an incoming class. Here is an article to get you started. PM me if you have questions.

AI General

AI Calc

Within range changes from year to year. We talked extensively with Harvard and Amherst's Admissions people. They have so many applicants with straight A's and perfect SAT scores they can't accept them all. They read the applications and fill each class with things they are looking for. Two years ago if you were a native american from Montana with reasonable grades you were in at Amherst. Harvard considers closely not only your Academic Index but your interviews, family background, quality of your HS, outstanding talents, work and volunteer experience. Baseball might add to what you can contribute to the university but the coaches can't get a particular player admitted. The staffs at schools like Harvard have to recruit just as hard as anyone else and get as many kids as possible to apply knowing that a very small % will be admitted.

On the other hand I'd guess they get a very high % of the baseball players that do get admitted.

Thanks Fenway and 3G...Fenway sent you PM. Thanks.

I have a funny Harvard story. Coach saw my son at a tournament sent a letter requesting information including SAT.. after sending back all requested information we received a nice letter from coach thanking Jr for getting back to them and wanting to set up a visit..etc..after signing his name he put a P.S..I hope your SAT scores was for 2 parts and not three...Needless to say we laughed and said looks like Harvard is out for you and put that letter in his scrapbook..

Their camp announcement states that a decent percentage of their players attended their camp. You might check their website for the information.

listen to what Fenway has told you.. we went thru this with my daughter. Its everything you need to know about the process.

From everything I have read, it appears that when calculating an A.I GPA is irrelavent if class rank is available. Would those "in the know" agree?

They look at the whole package, GPA, test scores, rank. I don't think there is one area that will get you in, or keep you out. You also must take the SAT subject tests, and these scores must also be acceptable. If they are seriously interested in you they will let you know where you stand.

Every academic metric is very relevant. Also important is your academic rigor (AP classes junior and SENIOR year).

In a nutshell, Coaches are looking at your baseball talents and evaluating if your academic profile will pass muster with Admissions. The coaches are using this AI formula (above thread) in their academic evaluation before they bring your profile to Admissions for further review. Admissions has final say on everything. As BOF suggests,if they are seriously interested they will let you know where you stand.

Princeton's Ohlendorf apparently had SAT's of 1500 (math + critical reading).

You can be admitted with a lot lower score than that, but your grades had better be top 10% or so, and your courses have to have been challenging.

The country isn't overflowing with D1 players who have those kinds of academic achievements, but there are more than enough of them to fill up the Ivy's, plus Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, and a host of others.

quote:

The country isn't overflowing with D1 players who have those kinds of academic achievements, but there are more than enough of them to fill up the Ivy's, plus Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, and a host of others.

Isn't overflowing is a trememdous understatement! In terms of the Ivys', lets look at this from the Ivy coaches perspective. There are eight Ivys with usually about 8 roster positions open per year per Ivy team. Of those hypothetical 8 roster positions per year, 4 could be pitchers and 4 could be position players. So, an Ivy coach could recruit nationally for 8 roster positions evey year by going to various national camps and showcases to see thousands of recruits. Why? Because they are looking for a needle in a haystack. Not only must you be a very good (recruitable) baseball player, you must also be an incredible student that can get by the Ivy Admissions guantlet. Ivy admissions process is a pain in the "tookus" for both the coach and recruit. Ivy coaches are competing from within their conference for recruits as well as with Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, etc which can offer D1 athletic money, as well as elite D3 LACs that offer generous FA packages. Ivy Financial Aid is need based FA. I wonder how many times a day a typical Ivy coach hears or says the word "No" from Admissions and recruits. Tough job for sure.

For the Ivy recruit, the problem becomes waiting to see if you can get past the admissions process and gain that "likely letter." Many won't wait, and instead go to the non-Ivy, high academic school that can offer pretty much guaranteed admission, and a scholarship to boot.

Waiting for a likely letter is never a sure thing and meanwhile, the scholarship offers at non-Ivy schools will go away too. This is always the risk and it does happen.

Does anybody know the average A.I. for admitted Ivy league baseball players?

I just read a very interesting book (which may be a little outdated, but excellent, nonetheless) called "Playing the Game" about Ivy recruiting and it states that the actual AI of any particular team is a closely guarded secret. A coach is quoted saying that she is not supposed to talk about her team's AI.Bymmer...I would love to know, too!

I think you would be surprised ! There are lots of articles and books on "Athletic Admits" to prestige schools .

quote:

Posted December 29, 2010 01:21 AM Hide Post
I just read a very interesting book (which may be a little outdated, but excellent, nonetheless) called "Playing the Game" about Ivy recruiting and it states that the actual AI of any particular team is a closely guarded secret. A coach is quoted saying that she is not supposed to talk about her team's AI.Bymmer...I would love to know, too!

Ahh, well that's disapointing. Are there any board members who fit the above criteria that can share some stories?

From what I know, it seems that the average team A.I. must be within one standard deviation of the student population. There do seem to be outliers, however, where some kids get in with 3.1 GPA's and 1850 SAT's.

7Steps,

You have a PM.

My oldest son was recruited by two Ivies. I was told by each that the AI average for the sports team must be 'similar' to the AI for the general student body. So, they can take some lower academic indexes as long as they have others on the team who balance it out. I agree with what 7 steps says. I haven't heard of any as low as 3.1 but I have heard of as low as 3.3 with the SAT scores in the range that 7 steps mentioned. They don't want to take many risks because they (at least the two I dealt with) are very proud of the average AI, graduation rates, etc. If a kid is on the lower end there should be some intangibles outside of baseball that would indicate to the coach that it is worth the risk.

P.S. I don't know that any Ivy would take a 3.3 gpa if they feel there are better options available to meet their needs, as there almost always are.

Like my dad used to tell say. Standardized test scores are one indication of smarts. Grades are more often an indicator of motivation. Everyone knows that studying for college courses is very different from the studying required in 99% of the high schools. When you consider that college baseball can be like a full time job, Coach must ask himself "Can this kid succeed here"

I am considering e-mailing Coach Walsh, would anybody suggest it? And if so, what criteria would anybody suggest I include?

xbaseballkidx11,

Absolutely. How else are they going to know you are interested? If you are serious about Harvard or any school, an email AND phone call is appropriate & expected in my book....its kind of like dating. If you get through, be prepared to ask some questions and answer some questions as well. I would include your baseball and academic achievements as well as your summer schedule. Request their summer & fall recruiting & camp schedule for college prospects. I would ask them to clarify what their recruiting process is, and what is expected of recruits to be seriously considered. You may not get Coach Walsh but possibly the recruiting coach (used to be Coach Lo Ricco a couple years ago) will most likely follow up with you. Remember, Harvard or any Ivy is looking for the best baseball prospect they can get through Admissions. Good luck.