Welcome to Donovan Sports Strategies

Founded in 1997, Donovan Sports Strategies has been helping players navigate the college recruiting process to find the program and school appropriate for their academic and athletic levels and goals.

“Tim Donovan was a great source of knowledge during my time at Harvard.  His knowledge and experience make him the perfect person to direct players in their search for the college athletics program that best suits their needs.”   —James Blake, ATP Tour Tennis Professional and former Harvard player

Did you know the following facts about college admissions and athletics?

• Most Ivy League schools reject 90% of their applicants. NESCAC schools Amherst and Williams are more difficult to get in than some Ivies.
• Student athletes have a distinct edge over the average student in the admissions process. The recruited athlete who entered college in 1999 had a 48 percent greater chance of being admitted than the average student at large.*
• The average SAT scores for admitted athletes is often well below the SAT scores for non-athletes; in some cases over 200 points lower.*
• Athletes with SATs under 1200 have gained acceptance to Ivy League schools.
• At Division III Colby College, 52% of males and 48% of females on campus play a varsity sport. At Division I athletic powerhouse University of Michigan, approximately 3% of undergraduate men play on an intercollegiate team.

*Taken from The Game of Life by James Shulman and William Bowen

Donovan Sports Strategies Fact:

• Over 85% of our clients get into their first choice school.