<p>So I am looking at a top-ranked d3 school for swimming (washu to be specific). My times in my specialty events put me in the top 3-4 on the depth chart. I understand that athletics isn't really a large factor in admissions at this school. However, do athletes that are accepted at competitive d3 schools like washu have other "major" ecs besides athletics? I just don't understand how athletes are expected to have a variety of ecs when participating in athletics 20 hours a week all year long.</p>
<p>Also, what is the definition of a recruited athlete at a d3 school? I understand that at a d1 school it is someone who takes an OV or scholarship offer, but what about d3?</p>
<p>That’s a great question and I have been wondering the same thing. My daughter is an athlete that plays two sports at school and also plays one of them year round with her club team. She participates in a volunteer organization at school for approximately 5 hours per month and one other small EC at school. I always thought her ECs were fine, but I’ve read a lot of posts on this board that seem to suggest they aren’t enough. When you dedicate so much time and travel to one sport on a year round basis it’s hard to fit more in!</p>
<p>Everything I heard on our college tours suggests that schools are shifting rapidly from looking at how many leadership positions and ec’s a student can accumulate to the deep passion he or she has for an activity. It’s about depth, not breadth these days. Some posters may claim that it takes grades AND test scores AND sport AND leadership in other ecs to get in, but there’s no way to know that (having just reviewed logical fallacies in class, that’s the good old post hoc ergo propter hoc at play). If the AO’s and the admissions websites are to be believed, passion for and skill in the sport (or other activity), along with grades and test scores are often in themselves enough tip the balance. Unfortunately for many kids who have tried to take the “right” path, student council presidents with 10 ec’s all blend in with one another in that giant common application pool. </p>
<p>That said, I don’t think it ever hurts for a kid (for his or her own sake if nothing else) to participate in music or service organizations or clubs. My kid certainly does, but for enjoyment, not to accrue leadership points. FWIW, (and yes, I know, coaches don’t admit students–but they certainly have a vested interest in seeing that recruits are admitted), no coach has ever even once asked about my kid’s other ec’s. It’s always about sport, SAT’s, and grades.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on the school. When my d had prereads at various schools (she swims), they asked for different things. One school (ivy) asked for transcript, test scores, school profile, a couple of other things that I don’t remember, plus a very detailed essay. We later discovered that the essay was the supplemental essay from the common app. In other words, they wanted almost a complete application package just to do the preread. On the other hand, I don’t recall that they asked about any extracurriculars.</p>
<p>On the other hand, one d3 school requested transcript, test scores, school profile, and a “detailed list of extracurriculars.” LOL! So I think you will discover which schools care about these things when you do the prereads. Most of the d3 schools just wanted test scores and transcript plus school profile. HTH!</p>
<p>Yup–I should have clarified that my son has talked only to d1 schools at this point. I imagine there are d3 schools that want the typical “whole applicant” applications. That said, I’m betting that the activity that the kid put the most time into is the one that will matter most. </p>
<p>Interesting to hear about the essay for the pre-read. That would be one out of the way anyway!</p>
<p>If you are applying to a competitive school without coach support, you are at a disadvantage as an athlete. This is because:</p>
<p>(a) if you are a serious athlete, you don’t physically have time for lots of other ECs
(b) although the admissions committees say they prefer depth over breadth, they do not look at athletics as such. Two reasons for this: (i) many students are admitted as athletes, no need to admit others through the regular process (ii) the people on the admissions committees are more inclined to look favorably on other types of ECs. This might be a little sketchy, but I have met several admissions officers, and to a T, none of them seem to value sports at all.</p>
<p>Since the OP is asking about the definition of a recruited athlete at a D3 school, I think he/she was planning to apply as an athlete to a D3 school, and the question was more about how many other EC’s were necessary, given that the sport is, in and of itself, a major EC.</p>
<p>The coaches at Washu are your best resource. If they want you on they team, they will do their best to help you address any deficiencies in your application. </p>
<p>Based on my family’s experience, dragonfly’s example of a couple of ec’s is enough for a fully supported athlete. The problem, as Xwords59 pointed out, occurs when a coach either doesn’t support your application or has very little influence with admissions. An unsupported club athlete who practices 20 hours a week for 50 weeks per year and swims varsity probably doesn’t receive much more credit from admissions than someone who only swims varsity.</p>
<p>DDD</p>
<p>“I understand that athletics isn’t really a large factor in admissions at this school.”</p>
<p>For admission to wash u or a similar UAA school high academic achievement is important. To be admitted as a recruited athlete an ACT of 32, UW GPA of about 3.8 and 6 AP courses will get you in range. If you are supported by the coach then you will not need another major EC but it will be important to participate in other activities at your high school besides swimming. I would contact the coach to find out what test scores, GPA, course load, ECs, and swim times are expected.</p>
<p>“Also, what is the definition of a recruited athlete at a d3 school?”</p>
<p>This is well defined by the NCAA. The rules for D3 athletes are different that D1 athletes. Some of the major differences include:</p>
<p>D3 athletes are not offered athletic scholarships. Your goal is to be admitted to wash u.</p>
<p>D3 athletes are not offered official visits. However many D3 coaches will offer organized unofficial visits in the fall with other recruited athletes. NCAA regulations cover what can and cannot be paid for in these visits.</p>
<p>NCAA regulations also cover how a D3 coach may contact a recruit. These rules are similar to D1 rules.</p>
<p>My son does soccer about 10 hours per week (nothing near swimming practice times, even though he is high level) and does math and science competitions after school, as well as select band. The key to it is having coaches and teachers who help you juggle your program. For example, his band director really needs his instrument, so he actually started band up again sophomore after having dropped it freshman year due to the commitment level. He may be going to Disney for both band and soccer next school year, at different times.</p>
<p>EC’s aren’t really a count as much as making sense. Everyone knows that even county level swimmers are practicing 20 hours per week, but if you tack on 2 hours of volunteering to teach kids how to swim, that’s a great fit. Or a summer job as a lifeguard. The worst thing in my opinion is to give off a vibe of “my parents can afford all of my sports and I don’t have to work”. </p>
<p>I find it interesting that someone mentioned admissions officers being not interested in sports as an EC. I heartily believe that got me into the Ivy I attended as (as mentioned in another thread) sports and STEM (I went for engineering) aren’t always a good match.</p>