My D has been in communications with soccer coaches of varying levels of interest from being ghosted to come to our camp to UVs.
However, a coach asked to send her unofficial transcripts and test scores. The coach saw her at a showcase and my D went to the ID camp. I assume that this is a good level of interest. She just finished her first term of junior year. Is it a bit early to be asking for grades? Is the coach just checking to see if she is an academically viable candidate?
My D is super excited, but I am dulled by experience.
Please give some perspective. Thanks.
From the experience with my daughter as a D1 recruit - she was asked for this information from numerous schools starting at the beginning of junior year. She completed her ACT by this time, as encouraged by others that had gone before her in the recruiting process.
Her strong scores and grades kept her in the running, but in no way did she have official offers from all the schools that seemed interested at the start of the process.
Glad your daughter is excited and as it appears like you know - it is a process with ups and downs. Hang in there.
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Agree with the above.
It’s not too early at all to be talking with coaches and making visits.
Your D should also be filling out the online recruiting questionnaires that each program has on their website….do this at the schools she is interested in and follow up with an introductory email to the coach/coaches. These forms typically ask for transcripts and test scores.
Prior to attending showcases, she should fill out the questionnaires and contact coaches who will be there…she shouldn’t wait for coaches contact her post showcase. Definitely cast a wide net.
Good luck, it can be a long process!
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Agree with the other posters. Not too early. And yes, the coaches want to know if she’s a viable candidate academically so they don’t waste their time, or hers.
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In fact, we used to give unofficial transcripts and test scores to coaches at schools of interest, along with tapes and college CVs, without being asked for them. For us, it was never too early and we often sent the information during sophomore year. It really just conveyed to the coach what type of student the recruit is, and whether or not there is a potential academic fit.
There is a difference between this and being asked for them for the process of the pre-read. If you ask for a pre-read, or if a coach asks you for them for a pre-read, then that is a different animal. It suggests that the coach has enough interest in your daughter to find out if she is admissible with admissions. If a coach is actively recruiting your daughter, you can always ask for a pre-read. I think it is helpful to ask because if a coach turns you down, you know exactly where you stand.
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Thanks for the thoughts. She filled out the questionnaires to all of the schools on her list. She has a couple of UVs planned at high academic schools and they did not ask for unofficial transcripts. Honestly, we didn’t even think about it, so this request was a small surprise, like “Oh yeah, grades. Good grades to get into the school.” No worries, she is doing fine.
Maybe this is a gentle reminder that grades + test scores + athletics equals getting in. Recruiting process is driving us insane at times. Thanks!
My daughter used to play in the summer tournaments that were sponsored by the college coaches’ assoc. Everyone in the tournaments, so thousands of players, filled out a profile including gpa, scores, etc., even if they weren’t interested in being recruited.
The coaches know or ask about grades.