<p>S is getting pressure to apply ED to D1 which has offered athletic aid but the figure isn't exactly firm yet but should be in a day or two. Since NLI is not signed until Feb but ED is binding, what is reasonable to expect from coach prior to agreeing to apply ED in the next week? An email with a firm offer of money? The problem with ED is that it is a commitment to go to a school no matter what. Is the coach changing the offer enough to get out? I am concerned because ED means S must withdraw other applications once he get accepted. If he applies ED to D1 then gets an offer from ivy in the next week, I assume that withdrawing ED application prior to school accepting S is OK?</p>
<p>We ran into this last year w/ a D1 school. The Coach kept calling my son and wanted him to apply ED, but could only offer him a VERY small athletic scholarship. There was no way we could afford the school w/o significant scholarships. The Coach really pushed for my son to apply ED and “hope” for academic money. After talking to son’s GC and others, we said no way. A rep of the school did a regular info session at S’s high school and even he thought it was a bad idea. As soon as the deadline for ED passed, the Coach dropped my S like a hot potato. He was eventually accepted under RD, but FA wasn’t even close to being enough. Fortunately S ended up at his 1st choice school, which happens to be a D2 school, and is loving every minute there.</p>
<p>Let me clarify that we are not expecting more aid (merit or financial) from this particular school in the admissions process. I am concerned that the coach may not honor the figure he tells S. He has already tossed around different amts to both S and me (he insisted I be on the phone). I did not think that an ED decision would specify athletic aid amt. But maybe I am wrong about that. Does anyone have experience with this?</p>
<p>I would try to get something from the coach in writing, via e-mail before applying ED and eliminating other options. We got an e-mail estimate of tent. offer from coach, with cc to athletic director before submitting an application (and my son’s was only RD, but he was sick of applications at this point!). It had all kinds of disclaimers on it that it wasn’t official, etc. but it was better than a verbal. If the coach won’t give you something similar it does sound like you are taking all the risk with ED and it may not be worth it.</p>
<p>Thanks. I did manage to convince the coach to send my son an email so we will see where we go from here. It was definitely time for me to speak with the coach. I think it is really difficult for an 18 yr old to negotiate with a coach, esp when it comes to money</p>