A council of 10 students works with Banks to co-ordinate UMRP activities. Two members represent each of five campus ethnic groups: African-American students, Asian-American students, Native-American students, Mexican-American students and other Latin American students.

The representatives work with campus ethnic groups to involve as many students as possible. The process is open rather than competitive, including the travel opportunities.

"The recruiting process really is multi-factorial," Banks says. "No aspect of the recruitment process works in isolation. The minority recruitment program is operating in sync with UAC. The UAC is operating in sync with Crimson Key. What we're doing in Cambridge is operating in sync with what alumni are doing at the precinct level. We're all working to get the very best students to Harvard along the lines of excellence and diversity; diversity of excellence."

Good Sports

Students play a crucial role in attracting prospective athletes to Harvard.

Athletic recruiting efforts are a crucial part of maintaining the school's prowess on the game field. Prior to graduating from high school, a large majority of Harvard athletes experience some form of athletic recruitment.

However, unlike other aspects of student involvement in admissions, recruiting is mostly organized and maintained by individual teams and coaches. Athletic recruiting can include combinations of mailings, e-mails, phone calls, and all-expense-paid visits to the campus, subject to NCAA recruiting rules.

Depending on the sport, students support their coach's efforts by corresponding with recruits and hosting prospects for the weekend visits.

Hosting a prospect is a significant commitment. For up to two days, the student-athlete will have a high school shadow--attending classes, eating meals, and going out to social events. Student-athletes often sacrifice their schedules to the burdens of hosting and to the NCAA rules that accompany them.

The NCAA and the Harvard Athletic Department set specific restrictions for these visits. The prospect must be a high school senior who may visit only once for a maximum of 48 hours, and may not consume alcohol during the visit.

However, athletes say that despite the regulations, a visit to Harvard is a crucial selling point. Softball Co-Captain Deborah A. Abeles '00 explains that the trip allows the recruit to see Harvard beyond the brochures and stereotypes.

"We show the prospects around the campus and what everyday student life is like," Abeles says. "How we work, go out, what dorm life is like--we aim to give an honest portrayal of life at Harvard.

Abeles adds that she tries to give recruits an honest impression of the team and the school, rather than actively trying to dispel stereotypes.

"We just try to be ourselves and let the recruit decide if Harvard is the place for her," Abeles says.

In addition to providing an introduction to Harvard, recruiting visits allow prospects to meet the team. Coaches usually schedule entire team meeting during the visits, such as dinners or trips to Boston. By organizing such activities, coaches hope to provide the recruits with a feel for how the team functions together.

"We schedule team events, so the recruit can get to know the team," says Erik M. Binkowski '00, baseball tri-captain. "What impressed me most on my recruiting trip was the closeness of the team."