Students Interested in Ivy League Intercollegiate Athletics

TO: Students Interested in Ivy League Intercollegiate Athletics
FROM: Ivy League Deans and Directors of Admission and Directors of Athletics

We welcome your interest in seeking an education at an Ivy League institution and participating in our athletic programs. The Ivy League is committed to seeking individuals who are remarkable both as students and as athletes. This statement is intended to explain the most important aspects of the Ivy admission process to students who seek intercollegiate athletic competition.

The principles that govern admission of Ivy students who are athletes are the same as for all other Ivy applicants. Each Ivy institution:

admits all candidates including athletes on the basis of their achievements and potential as students and on their other personal accomplishments;
provides financial aid to all students only on the basis of need, as determined by each institution; and,
provides that no student be required to engage in athletic competition as a condition of receiving financial aid.

Recruitment of students who want to compete in Ivy intercollegiate athletics may involve substantial contact with coaches as well as admission officers. Ivy coaches are both expert in their respective sports and interested in and sensitive to the academic and social issues that concern college students. They are encouraged to be knowledgeable about institutional admissions and financial aid standards, and to be able to discuss those standards with prospective students.
At each Ivy institution, however, only the Admissions Office has the authority to admit an applicant and only the Financial Aid Office has the authority to determine financial aid precisely and to notify students officially of their actual or estimated awards.
Admissions Offices at each Ivy school may offer some athletic and other candidates a "likely" letter, which has the effect of a formal letter of admission provided the candidate continues to have a satisfactory secondary school experience. Coaches may initiate the requests for these letters, but only the office of admission can issue a "likely" letter.
Admissions decisions will be communicated only by official written notification from Admissions Offices, by notification in Early Action, Early Decision or "regular" processes, or by "likely letters" after October 1, which are confirmed by one of those notifications. No other indication of a possible positive admissions result is or should be considered reliable.
A coach may both inquire about a candidate's level of commitment to an Ivy institution, or interest in attending that Ivy institution, and encourage that interest. However, a candidate may not be required to withdraw, or not make, other applications, or to refrain from visiting another institution, as a condition for receiving a "likely" letter or for a coach's support in the admissions process.

For applicants who are being recruited as athletes, choosing a college may be even more complicated than it is for non-athletes. We suggest that you consider carefully each of the following recommendations.

1. Start learning about institutions in which you may be interested as early as you can. The Ivy League web site, which is at www.ivyleaguesports.com, is linked to the general admission, financial aid and athletic web sites at each Ivy League institution.

2. Become familiar with the institutions' suggested secondary school curricula and testing requirements. Take the SAT-1 or ACT tests at times that will fit with the application process. Some Ivy institutions either prefer or require SAT-II tests as well, and you should be familiar with those requirements.

3. Visit one or more institutions as early in the process as possible.

4. Become familiar with institutions' application deadlines for early and regular admission and be prepared to file a full admission application in a timely manner.

5. Apply to be certified as an "initial qualifier" through the NCAA Division I Certification Clearinghouse. Information about the Clearinghouse and other NCAA rules for prospective student-athletes is available from your secondary school counselor, from the NCAA at its website or on the Ivy League web site, www.ivyleaguesports.com.

6. Above all, begin as early as you can to think about what kind of academic, athletic and personal experience you would like to have in college and what kind of college or university will best provide it. The admissions process requires institutions to make decisions about you, but even more, it gives you both the chance and the responsibility to make decisions about yourself.

In conclusion, we hope this information is helpful and we urge you to call or write if you have further questions or if any problems or issues arise. Best wishes for a rewarding and productive senior year.

Recruiting
So you are aware, NCAA rules and regulations prohibit coaches and administrative personnel from sending letters or electronic mail to high school students until after September 1 of their junior year in high school. Please note that not all coaches use online recruiting forms, but you may use the staff directory to contact one of our coaches directly.

Cornell Admissions Office
Cornell offers more than 70 major fields of study and many dual-degree programs and interdisciplinary majors in seven undergraduate colleges. This site will help you sort through adacemic information to help determine which school at Cornell is best for you.

Cornell Financial Aid Office
Cornell practices need-blind admission and offers need-based financial aid. This approach allows for the review of applications without consideration of whether an applicant will or won't apply for financial aid. Financial assistance is based on individual family economic situations and is not offered in recognition of athletic or academic ability or other special talents.

Collegeboard.com
Need to know when the next SAT I and II dates are? Looking for general information on the exams? Collegeboard.com is the place to go for information on the exams and even allows you to register online for the next test.

Visiting Cornell
Cornell University's Ithaca campus, set amid waterfalls, gorges, lakes and rolling hills in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, provides some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll find anywhere, and the university's rich history and diverse traditions also make exploring the campus exciting. You can take on online tour of the campus, or make plans to visit us in person!

Ivy League Admissions Statement
We welcome your interest in seeking an education at an Ivy League institution and participating in our athletic programs. The Ivy League is committed to seeking individuals who are remarkable both as students and as athletes. This statement is intended to explain the most important aspects of the Ivy admission process to students who seek intercollegiate athletic competition.

NCAA Guide For the College-Bound Student-Athlete
The NCAA was founded in 1906 and is made up of 1,102 schools classified in three divisions (Division I has 351 schools; Division II has 308; and Division III has 443). Schools in Division I, which is divided into two subdivisions for football (Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision), compete at the so-called major-college level. This online guide is intended to help you and your family understand the rules for prospective student-athletes, which sometimes can be complex.