Ivy League Letter of Intent

Since the Ivy league does not give athletic scholarships you will not be signing a letter of intent and therefore would not be included in your schools ceremony for those receiving athletic scholarships and signing a LOI.

You're good to go, the Ivy schools do not recognize any LOI. Just go and get your picture taken but do no signing. Enjoy the day, you deserve it.

Widener wrote:

You're good to go, the Ivy schools do not recognize any LOI. Just go and get your picture taken but do no signing. Enjoy the day, you deserve it.

But the ceremony is for athletes signing LOI and receiving athletic scholarships. He or she is not receiving any athletic money, so I am confused as to why they should have their picture taken. For all we know, this person is a 5 minute miler(assuming male). There is a reason they have a special ceremony for those receiving scholarships. Granted, some of the Ivy League athletes could have received athletic money, but they didn't.

Good points. I was just replying based off of my personal experience. I guess the OP should speak with his/her athletic director. Our signing day thing was for anyone who was going to be competing in college - even the walk-ons signed (silly I know). There was another girl who was going to Penn, we were both okay with just being there and getting free food and drinks.

I forgot to add something...

Yes, you are right, there is a reason we have a special ceremony, it's because America is absolutely disgusting brainwashed by athletics-even at the high school level. Yes, the 300 pound lineman who has a 1.8 and a 750 SAT might be put on a pedestal while Johnny, who's only 'sport' is chess, will be attending MIT - in the shadows of course. Where is his signing day?

It makes me sick to think that there is possibly a school out there who wouldn't recognize someone who will be playing a sport at Ivy simply because they will not be earning an athletic scholarship.

If the OP is a male, than we know that he is not a five minute miler, don't be an idiot. I see what you are saying, but you have to be in the 4:25/9:35 range even for the slow programs.

Widener wrote:

I forgot to add something...

Yes, you are right, there is a reason we have a special ceremony, it's because America is absolutely disgusting brainwashed by athletics-even at the high school level. Yes, the 300 pound lineman who has a 1.8 and a 750 SAT might be put on a pedestal while Johnny, who's only 'sport' is chess, will be attending MIT - in the shadows of course. Where is his signing day?

It makes me sick to think that there is possibly a school out there who wouldn't recognize someone who will be playing a sport at Ivy simply because they will not be earning an athletic scholarship.

If the OP is a male, than we know that he is not a five minute miler, don't be an idiot. I see what you are saying, but you have to be in the 4:25/9:35 range even for the slow programs.

Well I always appreciate being called an idiot for no reason. And you know he is not a 5 minute miler because why? I have seen so many times where very mediocre runners will brag about running in college at DI schools and yes, that even includes 5 minute milers. Of course they have no chance of really being on the team, but the majority of the people they talk with don't know that. This guy may be a 4:10 miler or a 5 minute miler. No way of knowing, but it is very possible he is a 5 minute miler. You would think if he was faster he would know a little more about the NLI or that the school leaders would invite him to the ceremony. Anyway, neither of us have any way of knowing.

As for the academic kids not being recognized like the top athletes, I agree that is a shame, but that is a whole different discussion. Since this ceremony is for athletic scholarship athletes it should be reserved for them, unless this athlete is indedd scholarship level and the administration invites him to be part of the ceremony.

Sure there are 5 minute miler types at some D1 schools, but what Widener is saying is that all of the Ivy schools have relatively good programs, and hence would not take a 5 minute miler, even as a walk on. Because of this, we can assume that the OP is at least a 4:29/9:35 type and just as deserving of recognition for their accomplishments than the kid going to some D2 school to be a backup lineman.

That being said, I've never cared much for silly self recognizing ceremonies like the ones being mentioned. In the long term, who really cares? Just go about your business and enjoy it.

You people are arguing about an unknown gender at an unknown high school and an unknown ceremony.

And I will repeat what I said to Widener; people lie all the time, especially anonymously on a message board. I have heard it all including a kid getting a full ride athletic scholarship to Illinois and he was a 9:45 3200 meter runner. Turns out he wasn't even on the team. More than likely this kid is solid and is actually walking-on to one of the teams, but none of us know that for sure. I never said he was a five minute miler, just that is was a possibility and independent of what his times are, he is not getting an athletic scholarship which is what the ceremony was for. Maybe he is scholarship level, but he chose to go to the Ivy League and not take a athletic scholarship.

Seriously, chill dude.

Not sure why I care about being called an idiot? I prefer not to be called that. As far as the OP, I really don't care either way but he wanted to know if he or she should show up for the NLOI ceremony when he is not signing one. Seems like an obvious answer, but not everyone agreed with the answer. He isn't a scholarship athlete signing a NLOI and for all we know, he COULD even be a 5 minute miler. So no, he shouldn't go to the ceremony.

Actually, I'm one of this particular Ivy League school's top recruits. I'm not going to put times because it would be easy to track me down, but I am male and MUCH closer to 4:10 than 5:00. I turned down offers from schools such as Georgetown and Duke because I valued the Ivy education and felt at home at the school.

I agree it wouldn't be pertinent to join the signing ceremony if I was a walk on or was not actively recruited, but I like the idea of being recognized and having a picture taken after all my hard work and a rigorous recruiting process.

Thank you all for the clarification.

To the OP - just ask your coach. Most of the programs issue an equivalent letter designed for this ceremony. It's good pr for the school and you do indeed deserve recognition. My observation, though, is that many Ivy athletes are pretty humble about their accomplishments, maintain a low profile and choose not to participate is these self-congratulatory ceremonies. If you are a high level athlete, however, it is a nice thing to do for the program.

Yeah, Not Sure Why. You're right. He shouldn't show up. Since he's opted to forego money and has chosen to attend a school with excellent academics, he's just a loser, right? All Ivy athletes are slow losers. He should have gone to State U and gotten his money. Since he wouldn't have had to worry about GPA, he could have hit the weight room more and maybe broken 5 minutes. But he's a loser and sure doesn't deserve to be there with those scholarship guys. No way. I'm with you all the way.

So you thought the kid was just making up the story....strange...but okay, that's not idiotic to believe he might be a five minute miler if you see the story as possible false.

I just thought it was idiotic to believe that a five minute miler could run for an Ivy school.

Didn't mean to hurt any feelings.

You seem sure wrote:

Yeah, Not Sure Why. You're right. He shouldn't show up. Since he's opted to forego money and has chosen to attend a school with excellent academics, he's just a loser, right? All Ivy athletes are slow losers. He should have gone to State U and gotten his money. Since he wouldn't have had to worry about GPA, he could have hit the weight room more and maybe broken 5 minutes. But he's a loser and sure doesn't deserve to be there with those scholarship guys. No way. I'm with you all the way.

Never said the kid was a loser and it was nice that he clarified a little more what his credentials are because there is a wide range of kids going to Ivy league schools. If my son had the same opportunity, I would probably want him to choose the Ivy league over getting an athletic scholarship. My only point was what the ceremony was for, to showcase kids that were signing a LOI. If the kid was really scholarship level and chose to go to the Ivy league, which is very common, then I would think his coach would speak up and have him be part of the ceremony. Since his coach was obviously not letting the athlete know he should attend, I thought it best that he not attend based on what the ceremony was for. Also, nobody had any idea of his credentials at the time.

confused..... wrote:

Actually, I'm one of this particular Ivy League school's top recruits. I'm not going to put times because it would be easy to track me down, but I am male and MUCH closer to 4:10 than 5:00. I turned down offers from schools such as Georgetown and Duke because I valued the Ivy education and felt at home at the school.

I agree it wouldn't be pertinent to join the signing ceremony if I was a walk on or was not actively recruited, but I like the idea of being recognized and having a picture taken after all my hard work and a rigorous recruiting process.

Thank you all for the clarification.

Well you would have received a 'likely letter' though which is the nearest thing to an LOI from an Ivy?

Your going to an Ivy league school and can't figure out a letter of intent? WOW. Just WOW.

I was in the same position last year with the whole Ivy league LOI deal and whether or not to go to the ceremony. I was also recruited by other big name programs like Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee. I just explained what my plans for college were to the AD and he highlighted me at the ceremony and not only did he acknowledge the fact that I was going to run DI track he also acknowledged all the accomplishments that I had in academics, service, etc. the ladies loved it, use it to your advantage.