What kind of offers are Ivy League schools able to give?
They can get your daughter into school if the grades and test scores are good enough (they do not have to be good enough to get in on her own). Remember, all Ivy's are not created equal, some are more difficult to get into, some have better lacrosse programs Ivy's work off of an "academic index" they take into account GPA, Test scores etc... and they come up with a number "an index" The coach has to maintain a certain "Average Index" for the recruiting class. To simplify if the index is 1 - 10, the average index for the class must be lets say 5. The top recruit in the class could get away with an index of 1 as long as another recruit has an index of 10.
The grades/test scores that a player needs to get into an Ivy will depend on where the player falls on the Recruiting Scale... The coaches number one recruit does not need the same grades as the coaches number 8 recruit.
Safe bet.... 90 plus Unweighted GPA with honors and AP classes... 1200 plus SAT, 29-30 ACT.... depending on where the player stands on the coaches list should be okay. Some can get away with less, some will need better, some will need much better.
There is a minimum index number (not sure exact formula or numbers). If the coaches are willing to talk to you and your daughter after seeing transcript there is a good chance that the grades are acceptable. If they are not acceptable they may tell you if your daughter can improve her numbers they can work with her.
Ivy's have excellent Financial Aid, go to each schools website and put your numbers into the financial aid calculator, that will give you an Idea of the "net cost to attend". Not all Ivy's offer the same Aid, but at least in the past some schools would increase the aid for a recruit that they really wanted if that recruit could show that they were being offered more aid at another Ivy. Remember to look at how many kids you will have in college because it plays a big role in the amount of aid if any you will get.
If Ivy coaches are willing to talk to your daughter/you IMHO you should go through the process.
Do not shy away from the Ivy's until you know what it will actually cost to attend.
Make an informed decision.
Excellent information!!! Thank you! Love when this forum is being used to help each other out!
Great stuff.
Ivy's are great but so are many Colleges and Universities.... from someone who has been through the recruiting process multiple times Boy's and Girls as a parent and coach. Do your best to find the "best fit". Take everything into consideration, and remember it's "tough to put a price on happiness".
Does your daughter want to be in a City?
Does she want a Big school with big time athletics?
Does she want to be in the south, the midwest, the mountain states, the west coast etc...?
Does she think she knows what she would like to do upon graduation?
Does she want a private school?
Does she want a big state school?
What is the culture on the team?
What is the culture / social life at the university?
Much to consider for a 17 year old girl.
Very few players will be able to "choose" their dream school, most will have to base their decision on what schools offer a spot, what schools the parents can afford etc...
Try to take the stress off your daughter during this process and make sure that your daughter understands that whatever opportunities arise and whatever decision she makes "it is the right decision" based on available options but it does not mean that it is the last decision. Get excited about whatever schools are willing to talk to your daughter and find the positive (if none of the schools she would like to go to express interest, tell here to make the best of the situation and explain that it is easier to transfer into many schools than it is to get recruited out of HS). As you all know, the world can be a tough place, if things do not go as planned, teach your daughter how to respond, adjust the sails and set a new course to reach her destination / goal. In the old days, players (boys anyway) used to go to Nassau Community College (or some other JUCO) if they could not go to the school of their choice, they than transferred to places like Cornell, Virginia, Maryland etc...
JUCO may not be an option but there will be opportunities
It gets crazy and stressful, do your best to find the good and make it positive. Remind your daughter that players transfer out of schools like Duke, Penn, Maryland, Penn State etc... Make the best of the situation but remember no decision has to be final.
If your daughter gets to choose her dream school congratulations, if she doesn't make the best of the situation.
Just trying to be helpful.... I have one that bounced around but is now at the dream school. It can work out even if it does not seem like it when they are Juniors in HS.
