<p>We are a bit confused about official visits for D3. Is it correct for my son to ask for one, or do most D3 schools not pay anything so they really only do unofficial visits, where the family pays everything?</p>
<p>Would it be better for him to say "I'd like to return to campus and learn more about your program and how I would fit into it" than flat out ask for an official visit? He did do a recruiting day and the coach said he'd email him, but the coach has been away so my son is emailing him today or tomorrow now that the coach is back.</p>
<p>Regarding D1 official visits - is it used as a way to find out coach interest, to ask for an OV even if the school is not in your top five choices? He'd go there if other options don't pan out, but otherwise he couldn't tell them that they are on his short list. Or is that in some way hurting the school if his interest is not that high? He doesn't want to waste his or the coach's time (it is a low-ranked D1 by the way, so maybe they want interest?).</p>
<p>My D is only looking at D3 (NESCAC and SCIAC). She has been offered quite a few officials. Personally, I think your son should ask directly. As a rising senior looking to apply ED, better to know where he stands at this point. According to my daughter, both the coaches and the players are limited in the number of official visits. If the coach is not willing to spend one on your son, that will give you an indication of the interest level. Just my opinion. Others may differ.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think that obtaining information is ever a bad thing. The language my son used when trying to get information from coaches was something like “I really enjoyed meeting/talking/working with you and am interested in knowing what are the next steps in the recruiting process at . . .” All of the coaches he was in serious communication with post summer camps gave him a frank response detailing where he was in the process. These ranged from “We will talk after the pre reads are done” through “We want you to come up to campus this fall” to “Send us the film of your first one or two games”. Each of these categories of responses helped my son determine where he stood in the various schools’ pecking order, or at the least the philosophy of that school’s recruiting efforts. </p>
<p>As far as asking directly about official visits, I don’t see the harm (unless he doesn’t intend on going) and it may provide your son with some information he can use in determining where to set his cap.</p>
<p>Hello,
My son swims for a NESCAC School and an email to the coach expressing interest in an OV was the best way to go for us.Even at a D3 level the OVs are very structured as you room with an athlete eat meals with the team and attend classes.You truly are able to get a feel for the closeness of the team, with each other ,with the coach as well as how the boys/girls teams interact.
The more academically rated schools will ask for transcripts etc to do a preread prior to allowing an OV
But, that point will never be reached if the coach does not know you are interested.
Once my son had decided on his school, he cancelled his OV with a D1 school so not to take up the time of the coach and possibly open up a slot for someone more interested.
Good luck</p>
<p>You can only take 5 OVs at D1. So if your son is waiting on some of his top tier, he may rise to the top if their A players say no thanks. Our son is in a similar position and we are advising him to schedule 3 OV s now and give it another month to see what happens. He is a swimmer. He is not looking at D3 but I believe they can not pay and there is no limit. BUT we were highly advised by many people to be careful with having too many visits. Everyone says it is exhausting for the student even though it sounds like tons of fun. And they miss school too much. </p>