Great questions. Unfortunately I don’t have the answers.
I do not have any specific information about fencing.
Here is some information across all sports for Brown, to the extent it may be useful. Brown admitted 617 students ED to the Class of 2019, including 26% (or 160) athletes. I know, separately, that Brown has a cap of 205 admission slots for athletes.
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2014/12/11/20-percent-early-decision-applicants-offered-admission/
I believe, can’t prove it, that a coach will get equal support from Admissions for a slot used in ED and RD. Nevertheless, coaches use a preponderance of slots for student-athletes who are willing to apply ED since the better talent usually comes off the board early, and ED is binding on the applicant, meaning the coach does not run the risk of possibly wasting a slot on someone who will choose another school–as can happen in the RD round.
The NCCA web site tracks rankings, but I don’t think they rank by weapon, however you could drill down through NCAA tournament results to get a feel for strength of epee.
Most (if not all) of these schools have the rosters on their web sites with brief bios of the fencers and coaches.
I do know Brown takes walk-on’s, and the coach recently told us about one fencer with zero fencing experience who made and stayed on the team for four years.
Within the past two or so years, from my daughter’s saber club, the tippy-top (national team) fencers have gone or committed to Columbia and Harvard; and some good fencers (top 20 or so in cadet points) have gone to Duke and Stanford. None to Brown - one girl applied last year, but was rejected, and is now on the NYU team. Many years ago a top fencer from our club went to Yale, but I think for sentimental reasons - her father had fenced there. While at Yale, she had to commute to NYC to train, and took a whole year off to stay home and train.
Columbia has the advantage/attraction that fencers can train regularly at top clubs while still in college.
You might reach out to @Epeemom who just went through the process.
What are the rules of etiquette in approaching college coaches during events (local & nationals) to discuss recruiting questions? Son is only a HS sophomore.
Brown’s coach gets 3 recruits per year-across all 6 weapons. Last year he didn’t need any M Epee fencers. The roster is the same this year, but with Simon Jones a Senior, I believe. Even when Simon’s gone, I don’t think they’ll use a recruiting spot for M Epee. Their Foil/Epee coach is fabulous.
Though I keep reading that the CalTech coach doesn’t have much pull, she fought hard for my son, who was wait-listed for the class of 2019.
@TheTwoKidCrew - does your son have any schools he’s particularly interested in? The Haverford coach told us they’re looking for a 2100 on the SAT (700 each) and no Cs after freshman year.
@stickdude
Here is the NCAA D1 rule:
A few thoughts:
For the HS fencer (with little national points recognition) who has to/intends on being a walk-on in college, it is in their best interest to find the college coaches who have little pull with admissions (ie MIT), or that are not given all the recruiting spots they want (ie Brown). These coaches are historically not getting all the recruits they want and have to hope for walk-ons with potential to fill their rosters.
With regards to etiquette approaching college coaches at NACs, there is a fine balance and a perhaps a back door.
In our experience, the college coaches are watched/stalked by many hopeful parents at NACs and it must be tough to be polite to every stranger that interrupts you while you are doing your job (which usually is coaching their college’s fencers).
When our son was a sophomore and his fencing results were unheralded, I tried to introduce myself to all the coaches from the academically elite schools. Despite all my efforts, most of these coaches could not be less interested in meeting me or hearing about my son. Most would cite the NCAA rules @swimkidsdad posted and kept their distance and avoided all eye contact at future events. It was very frustrating and looking back, quite unnecessary.
Frankly, unless you are making the podium at NACs, you do not need to introduce yourself to coaches at the academically-elite schools when your kid is a sophomore. At that time in your fencers life, they also do not completed any academic milestones (test scores) that would make having a detailed conversation worth a college coach’s time anyway.
I withstood the indignities of having my friendly waves and attempts at eye contact almost entirely ignored well into junior year. However, as my son’s fencing results improved and his academic milestones become available (which my son emailed to the coaches as they occurred) the icy reception didn’t seem as bad as in sophomore year. While the kids/families with better fencing results always seemed to experience a warmer reception than we did, that could have been my imagination.
In hindsight, I realize for the academically elite schools, their cup runneth over with HS fencers who have world/national class results, however the HS seniors who have the strong academic records to get past an admissions preread AND have notable results are very rare.
Once there was solid evidence of academic viability (which really doesn’t happen until full junior grades are out), there is a politeness and respect that makes it seem silly to even approach these coaches before this information is available.
All this being said, there is a backdoor (sort of) to gauge your fencer’s recruitability. If your club/HS coach has a strong reputation and/or good relationships in the fencing world, they can/may be able to make your fencer’s case or get feedback on their viability in a more timely and more courteous manner.
While most club/HS coaches will not know the nuances of SAT scores, class rank, AI etc. they will be able to ask about what a college coach is looking for in a fencer, or what their current roster weak spots are. At the end of the day, this is what you really want to know.
@Stickdude: Unfortunately, I don’t think you are allowed to talk recruiting AT ALL at NACs, etc. At least not until the SN of the kids’ Junior year of HS.
If I recall correctly, etiquette is that student/parents can only introduce themselves and exchange pleasantries at tournaments.
@superdomestique’s observations are very insightful. A couple comments:
It wasn’t your imagination. There are definitely nods and smiles, and lots of “top 8” bouts that are carefully watched followed by subtle and not so subtle positive feedback, both indirectly through a club coach, but often semi-directly, to a parent. Direct contact with the fencer is usually very limited.
This is so true! It amazes me how much misinformation about college admissions I’ve heard from (successful) club coaches. They may know fencing, but the odds a successful club coach “knows” admissions is surprisingly low.
One other thing to keep in mind is that, while a college coach can’t have these discussions at an event, they are free, and often happy, to speak at great length to a student or parent by phone, so let’s ng as the coach doesn’t initiate the call.
In fact, most of my initial knowledge of fencing recruiting came from phone discussions with George K., the former coach for Columbia.
Sherpa, SevenDad, Superdomestique, and Swimkidsdad,
Thanks for the valuable insight. From what I’ve gathered, talking directly to college coaches at events for a HS Sophomore is not only useless, it also violates NCAA rules. Nevertheless, it may be acceptable to call (or email) them to find out what their projected needs will be in two years and ask generic questions such as AI, class rank, & test scores that the college is looking for.
Reason why this will be helpful is that it is extremely difficult for any HS fencer to balance perfect grades, notable fencing finishes, and sleep. Grades is always a top priority, but it will be nice to know if a HS course load of 5 APs and all remaining honors courses are what these colleges are looking for.
Thanks for the reply. I probably came across a little too dire in my original post.
Fortunately, there are two specific schools that he’s interested in…and we’ve been talking to those coaches.
There are a couple other schools where he clearly would be an asset to the roster, but he hasn’t had any traction starting communication with the coaches (no email responses, etc.)
Our specific problem is that our son hasn’t loved any one school enough to apply for ED. So since he’s going into the RD pool, I’ve been encouraging him to reach out to more fencing programs.
I don’t know anything about fencing so this is somewhat out of left field, but the one Ivy fencer I know is very impressive even by Ivy athlete standards . . . 2300+ SAT, very strong HS grades, a couple of significant ECs beyond sports. 
Talking about impressive, I know someone with 2400 SAT, Salutatorian in a competitive Magnet High school and Number one ranked fencer ( in his/her age group).
With those academics and “number one” fencing ranking, your impressive friend must have received a LL by now.
Where is he/she be fencing next year?
Regarding LL, yes.
Sorry I am not supposed to tell where he/she is going to be next year.
Columbia looks like a fun team to be a part of right now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odMI0DGsn7k&sns=fb
FYI, Duke just announced an NLI signing by a WS fencer.
where to find this kinds of information ?
@ Epeemom
11-04-2015 at 5:01 pm
Though I keep reading that the CalTech coach doesn’t have much pull, she fought hard for my son, who was wait-listed for the class of 2019.
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thanks very much for your information. Did your son apply RD for CIT or ED ? was your son the only one contact the CIT coach ? or did you also contact her ?
what is the best way to get hold of her ? email or phone?
many thanks
@ fenwaypark
11-03-2015 at 4:13 pm
Here is some information across all sports for Brown, to the extent it may be useful. Brown admitted 617 students ED to the Class of 2019, including 26% (or 160) athletes. I know, separately, that Brown has a cap of 205 admission slots for athletes.
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2014/12/11/20-percent-early-decision-applicants-offered-admission/
I believe, can't prove it, that a coach will get equal support from Admissions for a slot used in ED and RD.
thanks very much @ fenwaypark for your information !
It seems that there are still 55 spots left for RD…
Take Brown or any similar elite/ IVY schools as an example, since most fencers who have good enough academic & fencing results may be already had NLI signed for ED round, do you think that applicants ( fencers) who is applying at RD round maybe “weaker” than those who applied ED in academic& fencing?
Just curious, how many percentage of fencers on the Cadet and Junior national list could sign NLI or get a coach’s guaranty of admission ?