<p>I did find that when the ED 1 deadlines were coming around, the schools wanted and answer. The D-2 school wanted my daughter to sign a NLI at the November deadline. I asked why we should commit in Nov when there was another signing time in April, and while the coach of the D-2 school admitted that the offer would probably still be there, she couldn’t guarantee anything. The D-3 school was pushing for that ED application. It turned out that my daughter was sure she wanted the D-2 school, signed the NLI and never submitted an ED application to the other school.</p>
<p>Even after signing, many D-3 schools still recruited my daughter. Some just didn’t care that she was committed elsewhere.</p>
<p>D1 and D2 schools are committed to honoring the National Letter of Intent. D3 schools don’t use them I think and don’t have to honor them. Not sure what happens to a D1 or D2 school who continues to recruit someone who has already signed a NLI with a different school. Generally, NLI have a “shelf life” and expire after early signing. The school doesn’t have to offer the same deal in the spring. The offer could be gone, better or worse. It’s a gamble to decline an offer from a school you really want to attend in the fall signing. Unless you are an Olympic athlete, don’t think you are their only recruit and you can demand whatever you want.</p>
<p>The ‘shelf life’ is through the school year you signed for, so in Nov 2013, the athlete is committing to 2014-2015 year. However, even after signing the recruit could go to another school, redshirt, and then play the following year. The athlete could accept no athletic funds during the ‘wait’ year. D3 doesn’t have to honor NLIs and the athlete can ‘play down’, but I still thought it was unsportsmanlike for the D3s to continue recruiting. They stopped when we told them to. There is one final showcase just after the signing, my daughter wore a pink armband to signal she was committed, and she got more calls after that showcase than any other.</p>
<p>I guess there is no honor among thieves anymore.</p>
<p>Yes. Playing a sport is the best way for kids of average intelligence to sneak into the top schools. </p>
<p>It happens all the time: kids who are nothing special get into an ivy/top liberal arts college for their ability to do something with some type of ball. Back in my day, there was a kid with a (1200/1600) SAT score who knew he was going to Princeton in his junior year. What a farce!</p>
<p>However, once these “student athletes” get to the school they quickly realize that choosing to attend a college with so many valedictorians was probably not the best idea.</p>
<p>Unless you are applying to Caltech. Then it doesn’t help :)</p>