D3 Running

Athletic Recruits
1

I just wanted to know if my running could help me get into some prestigious schools.

Track Times:

800m—2:01
400m–51.2
1500m-4:19
5k-16:38

Academics:
Current GPA-3.9UW
4.3 Weighted
Sat-2190
ACT-33
Current Grade: Junior in HS
AP’s Taken: AP Lang, AP Gov, AP Chem, AP Physics I, AP Lit, AP Enviro, AP Econ, AP Calc AB

EC’s
Sports: Varsity 3 Years- XC -2014 State Qualifier
Varsity 3 Years - Track- 2015 State Qualifier
Co-President for DECA
3 Years on Board for Key Club- over 200 volunteer Hours
DECA - national Qualifier(top 30 nationals)
MUN- Committee Chair for State Conference
National Honors Society Member
Summer Internship at OSU as a Sophomore- 300hours -Research in Materials Science department.
Taekwondo Black Belt

2

You’d have to be more specific about what is “prestigious” to you. At this point, those aren’t really strong D3 times. Don’t know where you are on the maturation ladder, though.

3

Umm examples of prestigious school examples for me are: Emory
Carnegie Mellon
WUSTL
UChicago
NYU
Brandeis
Case Western
Tufts
As well as
Hopkins
MIT
CalTech
Amherst

4

If you work hard and continue to improve, you might be in a position when you are a Senior to get some boost for your application at some of those schools.

I think you can get into some of them without the running, but the running might help you get into the a particular one you really want.

MIT and Caltech are pretty iffy, but I would still contact the coach(es) once you are done with State this season, hopefully with some new PRs.

5

What times would I need for my running to give me a significant boost for D3 schools?

6

Your 400m time would probably be of interest to the UAA schools (WashU, UChi, Emory, Carnegie Mellon). 800 maybe shoot for 1:57 and 1500m, maybe 4:02-ish.

In the NESCAC (Amherst), maybe sub-51, 1:55 and sub 4:00. I’m basing these on conference results.

Will they give you a “significant boost”? That’s the million dollar question in D3. All those schools (with the possible exception of Caltech) allow coaches to identify athletes to admissions and in the words of Jeff Stiles, WashU track coach, ‘in some cases, that makes the difference’. NESCAC seems to be a little more transparent about tips/slots - provided you ask the direct questions.

Good new is your academics/ECs are strong. As @justonedad mentioned, you’re a pretty strong candidate even without the athletic boost.

7

With a nod to @varska for making the effort to look up the times for you, it’s really best to contact the coaches. They have a much better idea of what times they would be interested in.

Wait until the current season has wound down and you have your finals as well and then give some of them a call. Keep in mind that you will have better rapport if they understand that you are interested in their program and not in just anyone, including their competition.

8

Thanks guys!

9

Yes & no. It’s not a shoe-in but the coach may be able to impress on the admissions staff. Would help if you can network with some contact at the school (alum). Marks are outstanding. Big thing is the interview & don’t focus on just 1 ivy.

10

Updated Times: At districts I ran:
1:59.34 in the 800m
and 50.78 in the 400m

I don’t know if that really changes anything. But I didn’t make state will that hurt my chances?

11

Congratulations on the PRs.

12

Thanks, but it still wasn’t good enough for state. It’s so unfair because in most other districts I would have qualified…

13

That is tough to take. At our Districts, you are pretty much running against your State competition, too.

14

Congrats on the PRs. 2190 SAT, 33 ACT and 50.78 400m - I like your chances at a top academic D3

15

Haverford has a good running program and a good coach. Might be worth a look if the school appeals to you. Also, St. Olaf and Bates are good D3 programs.