<p>I was deferred EA from the University but am still very interested in attending if I were to be accepted (I have SAT, GPA, etc at pr stats under the same username as this one). Anywho, I have been in contact with the varsity tennis coach and mailed him a video with footage of me playing. He was extremely interested to hear about my interest in both the school and the team. </p>
<p>Today, I sent my regional admissions officer a letter of intent to matriculate if accepted, in which I mentioned my communication with the tennis coach. </p>
<p>The coach is planning to call me within the next few days (when he receives and reviews the video), and I am wondering how aggressive I should be in my, should we say, demands. I feel like I need to tap into whatever potential resources I may have that could increase my chances of being admitted to the school, and this seems like a perfect opportunity to do so. My question is, how much pull, if any, does an athletic coach at the U of C have in admissions? And what is the best (and perhaps most subtle) way to propose that he speak to the admissions committee on my behalf?</p>
<p>Be pro-active in getting back to the coach if he doesn't contact you within a couple of days. I don't know when you first contacted him, but its getting late in the game regarding recruiting for sports.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at U of C and was a recruited athlete. When the coach first viewed his tape in October, he was told that his application was being "supported". He had decent stats and was accepted EA. I don't know how much influence the coach had, although he was visited by the coach before being accepted.</p>
<p>In many Division III schools, coaches are given a number of "slots" for athletes. In the case of schools like Chicago, the athletes have to be academically qualified to be considered for a slot. There is definitely a strong plus to having the coach in your corner.</p>
<p>U of C and was a recruited athlete---I thought that as a Div III school Chicago could not recruit?</p>
<p>Cfish - are you male or female? Last we heard they needed female players. DD sent a tape and would love to play, but isn't a ranked player or anything. We didn't push it as she knew she had a great shot to get in EA. She is registering for Div III just in case. </p>
<p>I wouldn't be demanding. He will put your name in if he's interested.</p>
<p>I don't believe they "try you out". What happens usually is there is an athletic recruiting form that is submitted by the student. Most of the questions relate to academics: GPA, SAT scores and such. If a coach is interested after receiving the form, there will be a request for a tape. This is how the process starts.</p>
<p>Another method used is attendance at college camps. For example, Yale runs a football camp during the summer that is staffed by various coaches from different colleges, including Division III. Athletes can be "discovered" and then contacted by the various schools.</p>
<p>Patsfan- I feel like I have the kind of application that is strong but not stellar, so I figured having a potential hook like this couldn't hurt. Anyway, I will make sure to stress my interest in the school over the phone with the coach and politely ask whether he would be able to speak to the admissions committee on my behalf.</p>
<p>Bettina- to answer your question, I am female. Did the coach ever get back to your daughter after he saw her videotape? Who knows, if things work out, we may both be on the team next year. I found it very difficult to evaluate the level of the players on the team, as there is virtually nothing available in terms of video footage or photographs. </p>
<p>He spoke to her and said she had solid basic skills that he could work with. That was pretty much it. She got in EA, and we have no idea if he said anything, likely not. She's not really to that skill level. But she only plays one season per year (3 years Varsity) and no other time, because of other varsity sports and in summer she travels etc and doesn't have partners to play with at home. She would love to play and has great potential to improve with more coaching and more play time. She only had summer group lessons a bit when she was a kid. So I don't know the next step. Tryout after school starts?</p>