So, our S19 has been in touch with a few XC/track coaches, all at top 25 LACs. Many have shown interest and it seems like, if he can get into these schools, the coaches would be happy to have him on the team. One coach in particular has shown a little more interest that that. S19 and I visited the school this fall, had a meeting that didn’t result in much other than the coach showing us around and basically talking like S19 would be part of the team. He got S19 a preread and it came back extremely positive. The coach called our son to give him that news a few weeks ago and made some rumblings about how our son must be applying to other schools because his scores and grades are high for his college. S19 sent his app a while ago and the coach knows he’s applied RD.
This coach texted S19 last week and says he’s going to be in town and wants to meet with him and us (S19’s parents). Any idea what this could be about? S19 didn’t ask. Just said the date looked find and we could meet. The school has an ED2 option. I’m thinking that the meeting could just be about that. Maybe he wants to ask him to apply ED2. My other thought is that he may be offering one of the school’s merit packages to S19. BUT, I don’t know if that’s something a coach can do and if he would even bring that up before S19 is even officially accepted.
Anyone out there think the coach can talk merit scholarships? Would a school that’s given an athlete a preread also be ready to offer merit? S19 is definitely not switching to ED2. He’s applied to 12 schools RD and he’s sticking with that.
Broadly, in our D3 kid’s merit search, coaches were upfront about the general, typical merit packages that might be anticipated for a student with his admissions portfolio. They all said it was not guaranteed, and only an estimate.
If the school offers merit, it can offer it to athletes, just on the same basis as other students. The actual offer can only come from admissions, not the coach.
@Midwestmomofboys thanks. This school only has competitive merit and just a fraction of kids get it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got some come March but it’s hardd to believe that the coach would even bring it up unless he had talked to financial aid. It’s not automatic with scores, etc. Their merit is decided holistically. Maybe it won’t come up. Maybe he just wants to see if S19 will move to ED2.
I agree that the coach might talk generalities about merit, but only admissions can offer a scholarship. As you point out, the coach might say I can offer full support (slot) if you apply ED2. What happened after the positive pre-read (typically that’s a key decision point)…did the coach not have a slot at that point for your S?
If he does offer slot and your S isn’t going to switch application from RD to ED2, find out what, if any, coach support could be for RD, and how meaningful it is in terms of increasing admission chances. Some athletes, even slotted, still go thru RD…the process is really dynamic. Good luck!
@Mwfan1921 well, he never officially offered a spot but most of the XC spots were spoken at other schools by the time our S for fast enough. Plus, XC is different in that lots of kids walk on even at some elite D3s so you don’t really need a slot. He’s likely to get in just with his grades, scores, and other ECs so he doesn’t need a XC slot to get in. I think we are just going to listen to what he has to say and tell him we have to stick with RD. I just get nervous meeting face to face. Sounds like he’s making a trip to our metro area but is making a special effort to get to our town. I feel a little bad already knowing we wouldn’t switch to ED2.
The only merit award that my kid was offered came directly from admissions along with a likely letter after a pre-read in the Fall. It stated the minimum award amount he would receive and that as long as he maintained his academic levels he would be guaranteed admission.
Should be an interesting discussion, let your S drive it, but don’t you and your H hesitate to ask questions or clarify things! Yes, as many XC kids do walk-on, I don’t think it would necessarily be bad if you don’t want to switch to ED2 (if that’s what he wants). Seems fair to want to see where S gets accepted and what type of merit offers he receives, as he is a strong applicant for many schools! Coach may have been in recent contact with admissions too, try to get as much info out of him as possible
@Mwfan1921 ugh. S19 not really looking forward to it. I think he’d rather just talk on the phone. I guess that’s part of the reason I was posting this. He could still say that the date won’t work but I do think it’s best not to make a big deal out of it and just go to the meeting. We don’t have to stay long. Hopefully, the coach won’t go on and on and I’m sure S19 will have homework that night so we have an excuse not to linger too long. S19 will just have to be ready to say thank you and just be honest about how we need to stay at RD.
My son submitted pre-read docs in late summer. By early Fall coach emailed and said pre-read came back positive and my son would hear from admissions. Admissions sent a note a few days later to both my son and the coach with a likely letter and an attachment that showed a merit award and it stated this would be the least amount they would offer and if son19 submitted a full app they would review it and consider him for any other $$ he might qualify for.
The coach did not put any pressure on S to apply ED. The school does not offer an EA app. So he submitted a RD app around Nov 1 just in case the school he applied to ED falls thru.
It’s not unusual for coaches to nurture relationships with families and recruits this way. After all, with no control over funding sources, it’s the one thing a coach can control that might tip the scales in his school’s favor. I’d just keep an open mind and treat it as an opportunity to learn more about the program and get to know the coach. If it turns into a financial discussion, don’t feel guilty not applying ED 2 but just explain why. I can guarantee a D3 XC coach understands financial constraints and the need to compare offers.
^^^agree completely. If it is a school that you are really interested in I would also use this opportunity to see if the coach would have you for an official visit.
D3 coaches don’t have anything to give other than their time and maybe a slot (but you’ve already got the positive pre-read, unless this is Haverford you shouldn’t have an issue). The coach may be in the area for personal reason or may be looking at other kids in the area.
He’s just keeping the communications open and trying to make your son feel wanted.
Prepare your son for the meeting. That will make it easier for him. Have him ready with the five minute elevator speech answering the question “tell me something about yourself.” Have him prepared with at least three questions. You should definitely tag along. That way YOU can be sure the merit aid issue is raised – that will take some pressure off of your son. Make sure to ask who gets it and whether your son is in the mix. Do not be shy. The coach will think that it is unimportant to you if you don’t tell him that it is important.
In the first couple of coach meetings, I used to dance around issues. By the end, I was direct, “is my kid going to get in?” If the answer was not direct, then I knew the answer.
@gointhruaphase The coach asked S19 to have his parents come to the meeting. That’s why I thought maybe there was something more to be discussed than just catching up and grabbing a coffee. We already all met the coach during S19’s last visit. S19 has already talked to him about his interests and his high school academic/EC experience. So…i kind of thought we were done after he called S19 with the positive preread. To me, there’s not much else to say. The school has his RD application and has for two month already. I guess it’s possible that the coach just wants to say hello again. Having read all of these replies, though, I guess it’s also possible that he will give S19 a likely letter and maybe even some guestimate on merit.
I hear you about dancing around the issue. We haven’t spoken to each other very directly. The school isn’t his first choice, more like a safety or a low match. It would be great to know he’s in as it would relieve some pressure since he didn’t apply anywhere early. But knowing he’s in doesn’t get him much closer to a decision. He’s got 11 other schools to hear from.
Having these meetings with adults, and really the whole recruiting process, it a great experience for your son. I saw mine go from panicking when he got a text asking for a time to talk on the phone to being very calm and articulate fielding calls and in person meetings.
We only had one coach who really tried to put on a hard sell. It didn’t go well, he dropped way down the list after that. Most coaches are professional and understand that the kid needs to find a good fit, which may be with them or may be with someone else.
I would definitely go to the meeting. Even if it is a bit uncomfortable that’s a learning experience. But my guess is that it will be positive.
Thanks @dadof4kids We are definitely going. Like I said upthread, we met with this coach in his office at the school and toured the facilities too so he’s not a complete stranger. And S19 did great talking to him then. He’s also had numerous interviews so he’s pretty good with adults. I just think we have to make sure we are on the same page with what he will say. I’ve already told him that he should just be honest. He likes the school but has others he likes as well and he’s waiting until after RD decisions and revisits to decide. His overnight didn’t go very well at this school when it came to the connection between him and his XC host. That’s our biggest concern since, if he goes to this school, he would like to run and he’s not sure he fits with the team’s culture. We will not bring that up though. If he’s accepted and visits again, he will work hard to meet other kids on the team.
