Athletic Recruiting at Bryn Mawr

Just read an interesting post by a parent of an athletic recruit to Haverford who feels that their child was misled (given a “academics are fine” pre-read by admissions and ultimately rejected ED1. The issue is, of course, that they feel they wasted their one shot at ED1 that could have been used elsewhere. Therein lies the risk in elite LAC athletic recruiting. My experience with D is that some schools have their act together and do it right, while many others do not. The issue, in our recent but somewhat limited experience, frequently is the coach. Inexperience or downright dishonesty as they hedge their bets trying to get the best athletes in the door.

D2 is an high level soccer recruit (ECNL player at Crossfire Premier) who has generated a great deal of interest, including from D1. Like many, she wants to go to a small school, and BMC is high on the list.

Anyone have a sense for how Bryn Mawr manages recruiting? Do they do it like the NESCAC schools, which tend to mirror the Ivies in terms of competitiveness and process? Do they care at all? And, if anyone knows, where does women’s soccer rank at BMC in terms of academic pull?

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

I submitted the athletics supplement when I applied to LACs, but didn’t submit any additional materials (videos, etc) or meet with the coaches. Mount Holyoke’s coach actually called me on the phone and said she was preparing her list to bring to admissions and asked me to explain any inconsistencies in my application so she could defend me. When I visited campus, they also included me in team dinners and my overnight host was an athlete. I got into MoHo, but ultimately decided upon Bryn Mawr, where I was also recruited. The coach didn’t call me, but she did include me in her roster before coming to campus, etc. I also didn’t personally reach out, since I had a more “we’ll see what happens” approach to athletics, so I don’t view her lack of communication as an oversight. I would encourage you to get in touch with the coaches and if you come to campus, try to arrange a visit with them. Coaches often come into admissions to meet with prospective students and their families. I think they have some sway in terms of advocating for students, but ultimately it’s a holistic process that looks at all factors of an application.

Wondering if you have learned any additional information on recruiting at BMC? One coach at another highly-ranked LAC stated she would have admissions office do a pre-read of my application materials at end of junior year to give me an idea if I have any chance of acceptance.

I would reach out to the BMC coach and see if you can arrange a meeting or phone call. Just ask him or her honestly how recruitment fits into the admissions process. I’m sure it’s a question they get a lot.

Thanks for your advice. I really want to attend BMC, but not sure my academics are strong enough on their own for admission. I am hoping that playing a sport at BMC will assist in acceptance chances, but seems to vary widely among division 3 LACs.

D is being recruited as a soccer player at the D1, 2 and 3 levels. Focusing on D3 (D1 options aren’t that great, and D2 is no-man’s land). She is considering Bryn Mawr, but less so for the soccer and more so for the school, which she really likes.

My sense is that it helps. How much is a function of how high you are on the priority list for the coach. My sense is also that the coach has a “list”, and from that list he/she can indicate priority emphasis.

Ultimately, unlike D1, admissions calls the shots in D3. But that said, the power of athletic recruiting cannot be underestimated. It varies from school to school, sport to sport. Williams and other NESCAC schools get the best of the best, so you have to a pretty elite athlete to get a lot of help with one of those schools.

@hoopster14 are you the same person who posted a ‘chance me’ thread on the Michigan forum as a white male from Maryland with a 3.95 GPA and 2240 SAT?

Lol. You do realize that BMC is an all women college right?