<p>How important are SAT scores in D3 recruiting for baseball. If child is a top prospect and has excellent grades and ranked high in school class but SAT scores fall a bit short does he have a chance? Does the coach have pull to assist him in admissions?</p>
<p>Go to the athletic recruiting page under College Admissions. Lots of information about NESCAC recruiting.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The coaches may push you over if you are a waitlist candidate…</p>
<p>As an aside, I’d look at Bowdoin, which is officially score-optional.</p>
<p>SATs/ACTs are very important for ultra-competitve schools like Williams that typically admits students from across the country. Williams has a few slots for baseball that can be less (within reason) than the typical Williams admitted student. The recruit would most likely be an impact player. </p>
<p>Thank you for your input!</p>
<p>“The coaches may push you over if you are a waitlist candidate…” </p>
<p>This MASSIVELY understates the clout that Nescac coaches, Willimas college, included. A top recruit with a coach’s slot (there is a precise limited number allocated among all sports) can gain admissions for a recruit with "excellent"grades and, for Amherst/Williams, 650 on each section of the SAT I. For a regular applicant, 1950 on the SAT I would be a real challenge.</p>
<p>Based on our experience, you need the 1950 to be truly considered, and then, you need to fall in the window when the coach is actively looking. With a higher SAT score, you are more likely to be looked at. With a lower one, not so much. Just 2 cents. </p>
<p>A key distinction that sometimes seems to elude people is that between the “good enough to make the team” athlete, who maybe got a letter from the coach and might have talked to him on a visit vs. the legitimately full-on recruited athlete. For the former, the sport element is a relatively modest add-on; for the latter, at many schools (don’t know anything specific about Williams) it puts him in a whole other category.</p>
<p>My D15’s school just announced a recruit to Williams. Don’t know what the test scores are, but GPA rank is about the 50th percentile.</p>
<p>bball4,</p>
<p>In my limited experience with NESCAC baseball recruiting, I think you’ll find different tiers and minimum thresholds. Son was recruited by NESCAC schools including; one lower tier, one mid tier and two top tiers which included Williams. </p>
<p>At the time, Williams hinted they wanted him to retake the SAT while he was sitting at 2000 which he later did to raise his score. Whether or not that request came because my son needed it, or the coach wanted to boost the overall team number remains to be seen. He had offers from mid-level D1s and two Ivys at the time. IMHO, he would have been an impact player to their team. So, my initial thought is the number is just north or 2000 for an impact player being recruited for a top tier NESCAC school. For a non-slotted player the number is going to be much higher.</p>
<p>I hope that helps with some level of context.</p>
<p>Gotta say I’m with fenway. My S needed over 700 on his SATs and Achievement tests for Williams, but he was not one of the top 4 “slotted” recruits(I assume). He was in the top 5% with a 4.0 unweighted GPA in an IB program. Some very few extremely talented athletes will get into Williams with scores under that range.</p>
<p>Great information from all. This whole recruiting process has been an interesting journey! </p>
<p>My DD was a top recruit at Amherst (she went elsewhere) was told quite emphatically that with her slot all she would need was 650 per section. I would expect Williams is equivalent. Of course, without a slot all bets are off.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is for all sports, but I believe there is some sat figure that is related to the average figure for the school. So if you are interested in Williams it would help if you knew that number relative to the other schools in NESCAC. For example, for Amherst, I believe the act number is 32. If you have the 32, you are okay without a slot.</p>
<p>Caution on Bowdoin, ymmv but when my D was going through recruitment she had to submit test scores to pass the preread, even though they are test optional. The coach said it was because the preread is done with less info than a formal applicant, so they need something besides your grades. Bowdoin does have an average test score for its student body, so I assume that’s what they use to figure out their recruit numbers.</p>
<p>I really think it depends on a number of variables. What sport: I have heard that some of the so-called helmet sports may have lower requirements. What demand: Do they really need someone for a given specialty position for the team. What impact: If the athlete is truly an impact player (i.e., starting all four years and could have been a significant D1 recruit), they will dip the board scores more. </p>
<p>In a Williams coach discussion, I heard an ACT range of 29-36, followed up by a statement that there is no prescription for specific test scores and that there is flexibility. I got the impression that a 29 about the lowest and was reserved for a true impact player, but that was just my personal take. My impression was that otherwise you needed well into the 30s. Your best bet is to ask the coach directly.</p>
<p>IMHO, Williams is the hardest NESCAC school to get into, if for no other reason than that SAT2s are required. It is a beautiful school. The students seem to have it all. They have a great wealth of athletic talent, and the kids have “brilliant” written all over their faces. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you for the great information!</p>
<p>In rereading your original question, I think it is important to remember there are considerable extremes in D3 baseball recruiting. I’ve been through college baseball recruiting 3 times with my sons. </p>
<p>I thought I knew a lot after my first son was being considered by top academics D3 (NESCAC, Centennial, University conferences), D1, and Ivys. He graduated from an Ivy last May. As it turned out we had barely scratched the surface with D3s when my middle son was being recruited. While he did not possess the same talents as my older son there were whole lot more D3s interested in him. My youngest is being considered for a handful more of other D3 schools we didn’t consider. My point is if your son has really good grades and the skills to get a D3 coach excited about he’ll have some options, but you have to go find them. I woundn’t necessarily just focus on one particular conference but the academic programs and how the baseball team fits into the schools way of doing things. I can’t tell you how many Open Houses and un-Official Visits I’ve been to. I went on one yesterday and I’m going on another one Tuesday. Listen carefully to what the College Prresidents say about their school and listen carefully to what the head coaches are saying or not saying about their program. From those discussions you should have a good feeling if it is a fit for your son’s goals or not, and how much they value your son. I can tell you straight up that if a head coach is not hot for your son to join his team now as a recruit, it is going to be extremely difficult once he is on the team. Playing college baseball is an opportunity and nothing more. Very, very few get the opportunity to start or hold a position as a freshmen or sophomore. So, as you are looking at academic fits make sure also look at athletic fits and how much the head coach really wants your son because he may be looking to replace him next year. That is how college baseball works. Good luck finding that fit…</p>