<p>I have a question regarding athletics not only at UChicago, but at selective schools everywhere, that may be on the smaller side. </p>
<p>How does recruiting work at such selective schools? For example, if I wanted to play basketball at UChicago and applied Early Action, do I have to get accepted by the school first? I guess I really don't know how any of it works.</p>
<p>Anyone else have an idea?</p>
<p>Yes, athletes have to be admitted as students before they are eligible to play.</p>
<p>Generally, what happens is that coaches try to find and to recruit athletes who match up well with the college, and get them to apply. There are no athletic scholarships at Chicago or other Division III schools; athletes go through the normal financial aid process if they apply for aid. The coaches let the admissions staff know, of course, which applicants they have recruited, and the admissions staff takes that into account more or less strongly. (I don’t know how it works at Chicago, but a common model is that each varsity coach might have one or two “free passes” to admit someone as long as he or she meets some minimum standard, and then the ability to have their interest taken into account for some greater number of applicants.) </p>
<p>Generally, when coaches and admissions departments work well together, the coaches have a good idea which athletes can get accepted, so the whole process works with minimal friction. Sometimes there is friction, and sometimes kids can get surprised because they think the coach will get them in, and then they are rejected or waitlisted. Most coaches are honest and clear with the kids they are recruiting, but not all of them are, and sometimes the kids don’t listen carefully for the nuances.</p>
<p>Finally, while most of the players on teams will have been recruited by the coach before they even applied, some will be “walk-ons” who were admitted without any support from the coach, and who want to play the sport and who prove they can do it at the appropriate level.</p>
<p>JHS- Thank you so much! That makes sense. Thanks.</p>