<p>A caveat after reading the article is that, IMO, the author makes it seem like it’s fairly easy to get on a team. For the schools that routinely contest for the NCAA title, I don’t think this is the case at all. I think it’s pretty damn tough, in fact.</p>
<p>Interesting statistic, but it fails to mention that some the schools with the largest budgets have more options and tend to import talent or import multiple national team members who might have interest elsewhere outside of the NCAA. So the reality might be after looking at the top academic schools(9) and then the top competitive schools(4)then the women’s academic programs(2) military academy(1) than what’s left are fencers interested.</p>
<p>Fencing recruits…it’s that time again World Cadet & Junior Championships so for you wanna be collegiate fencers most of the US Collegiate Coaches are combing the Junior Championships for 12th through 108th finisher who speaks english well enough(maybe) to take the TOEFL and get a special admission to fence next year. Don’t worry it only affects a few select programs, but it is a part of the collegiate recruiting exercise. </p>
<p>I love/hate college fencing. Love watching team events. Love the energy. HATE how kids are recruited and how the non-super-stars are underused. I guess the coach’s job is evaluated on how well he/she does, so the results are important…but still! </p>
<p>I think the best place for non-super-stars are the colleges that DON’T expect to do well, like Brown…where a B-rated fencer will be treated like a prized member of the team!---------this comes from another collegiate fencing forum where to topic was stock piling talent and class of 2018.</p>
<p>Speaking of Brown… My A rated epee fencer (not a fluke “A” but earned at multiple events) is not high on the points list, has a 3.5 UW GPA from a private school and SATs of 2190 (800 M 720 W 670 CR). Doubled up in math and science (AP Calc, AP Physics) so he could get through the highest level math and science courses offered. What are your thoughts on Brown and does anyone have experience with the coach there?</p>
<p>I like Brown, but it isn’t the best place for an epee fencer. Coach Tass has a reputation of being unapproachable, but once you get to him I’ve found him to be a straight shooter. Your son’s SATs are fine; his GPA might be a problem. What other schools is he considering?</p>
<p>Sherpa - he’s focused but all over the board. Haverford, Stevens, maybe Brandeis. He may end up at an Engineering school that doesn’t even offer NCAA fencing. He wants a smaller school without a party atmosphere which eliminates a fair number of schools.<br>
Brown seems to offer all of the majors he might want to pursue (engineering. physics, chemistry, bio. cs) , and though it’s not small it is close to home. I thought that the addition of Ervin Szüch was a plus for the epee and foil fencers, but I don’t know if he’ll be back. His GPA for Jr. year should be closer to a 3.7 Thank you for any thoughts and advice.</p>
<p>Epeemom - I was unaware of the coaching addition. That’s a good sign for the Brown program. It’s certainly worth the effort to get on their radar. His AI will be good enough if the coaches will support him. Has he considered Lafayette? They have fencing and engineering.</p>
<p>SOS! My son is a Junior who is a B-rated foilist who has just missed earning points in Juniors and Div I. He has medaled at ROCs and finished top 32 in Div II and DIv III in past. He fences in NJ (where quite a few talented fencers call home), and does so with great regularity. He is interested in Engineering (at a school that has other offerings just in case of a change in heart). He loves to fence, and hopes to do so in college. He has found it a great way to gain a sense of belonging and establish friendships at high school. HOWEVER, his GPA only overs around 3.3, and his SAT score was 2060. We have done quite a bit of research, only to fine ourselves all over the place (Princeton all the way to strong clubs such as Michigan). Haverford, JHS, Lafayette, Duke, Ohio State, North Carolina… the list goes on. SEEKING GUIDANCE TO NARROW OUR FOCUS!!!</p>
<p>I’m hardly in a position to offer much guidance, as we too have been seeking help, but my first thoughts are: does he want a large school or a smaller school? Does he have any geographic preferences? Have you visited any schools yet? My fencer loved Haverford when we visited (twice) and immediately said he could see himself there, but he likes small schools and feels like the honor code would be a good fit for him. We were told by the Haverford coach (I hope I’m remembering correctly) at least 2 700s on the SAT and no "C"s after freshman year. </p>
<p>Lafayette is an LAC with a DIV 1 fencing program, though they don’t offer fencing scholarships they do offer some merit scholarships. I have no experience with the coach, but he’s newish, young and wasn’t on campus when we visited.</p>
<p>We looked at Ohio State while we were in Columbus last year. As much as I thought he would run screaming from the campus (he really likes SMALL schools) he said he could see himself there , though it’s not his first choice. I think that there are fencing parents on this forum who have kids at Ohio State. </p>
<p>JHU looks interesting, and certainly offers plenty of options if he changes his mind about Engineering. </p>
<p>I believe that Duke is pretty selective (grade wise). I’m familiar with some of the fencers who are going (for epee) next fall. Not all high on points, but I beleive pretty strong academically. </p>
<p>No other personal experience but I think that Princeton is pretty unlikely for all but the top students who are also on top of the points list. </p>
<p>I agree about the social connection. I think that for my guy unless he winds up at a tiny engineering school (Olin is looking rather appealing right now but extremely selective) he’s going to need to belong to a tribe of fencers </p>
<p>I think that visiting the schools will help you to focus your search. Good luck!</p>
<p>Epeemom is offering good insight. I’ll add my comments on each of the schools you’ve listed.</p>
<p>Princeton: No chance. We know a valedictorian with a U20 national medal who was rejected last year.</p>
<p>Michigan: the club coach can’t help with admissions, and the 3.3 will probably be a deal killer.</p>
<p>Lafayette: Good school to target. His test scores seem fine and his grades are within range if the coach is willing to offer support.</p>
<p>Duke, North Carolina, JHU: I doubt admissions can get past the 3.3, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Ohio State: I doubt he could get coach’s support, so he’d be on his own with admissions. I have no experience with how competitive the regular admissions pool is.</p>
<p>NJIT has fencing, but I know nothing else about the school.</p>
<p>Good luck, and I’ll try to answer any more questions you have.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice and suggestion regarding Lafayette. Are there any otherschools we should consider? Any thoughts on Swarthmore (club), University of Massachusetts Amherst (club), Penn State, or University of Virginia (club)? Schools outside our geographical comfort zone (Northeast)? Thanks, again!</p>
<p>Swarthmore is highly selective and there’s no fencing coach who can help with admissions. I also think that Swathmore is more intense academically and our HS guidance counselor said admissions at Swat is slightly more selective than Haverford ( he’s also a Haverford grad, though not recent)</p>
<p>One thing that I forgot to mention is that Swat is part of the Quaker consortium - along with Haverford, Bryn Mawr and UPenn. Students at one can take classes at the other. So, if your son wanted to attend Haverford, but decided he wanted to pursue engineering he would have a couple of choices. He could major at Swat in engineering (and still graduate from Haverford) He could also consider the 4+1 program with Penn which gets you a Bachelor’s degree from Haverford and a Masters in Engineering from Penn. There’s also a 3+2 program with Caltech which nets you 2 Bachelor’s degrees.</p>
<p>OK - I’m confused. I thought that recruiting couldn’t begin until July 1st of a prospect’s Junior year. Is this for DIV 1 and DIV 2 only? Invites from DIV 3 coaches are starting to come in for the week of 6/23-6/28 during Nationals (the coaches have specified that the meetings should take place on a day when the athlete isn’t fencing, or after they’re done fencing that day).</p>
<p>The rules are confusing, but basically the difference is that off campus discussions are permitted beginning after completion of junior year for D3, but not until July 1 following junior year for D1. This year’s unusual Summer Nationals schedule compounds this confusion . Typically SN starts in early July, which is perfect timing for recruiting, but this year it’s earlier, and many rising HS seniors will be leaving before discussions are permitted.</p>