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.