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.

* An Ivy 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 make a matriculation commitment, to withdraw other applications, or to refrain from visiting another institution, as a condition for receiving a "likely" letter, or an estimate of financial aid eligibility, or a coach’s support in the admissions process. In addition, coaches may not request that candidates not share estimates of financial aid eligibility with other schools.

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 website.

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.

Brown University
James S. Miller, Dean of Admissions
Michael Goldberger, Director of Athletics

Columbia University
Jessica Marinaccio, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
M. Dianne Murphy, Director of Athletics

Cornell University
Doris Davis, Associate Provost for Admissions and Enrollment
J. Andrew Noel, Jr., Director of Athletics

Dartmouth College
Maria Laskaris, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Harry Sheehy, Director of Athletics

Harvard University
Bill Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Robert Scalise, Director of Athletics

University of Pennsylvania
Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions
Steve Bilsky, Director of Athletics

Princeton University
Janet Lavin Rapelye, Dean of Admissions
Gary D. Walters, Director of Athletics

Yale University
Jeffrey Brenzel, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Tom Beckett, Director of Athletics

Council of Ivy Group Presidents
Robin Harris, Executive Director