<p>I just read through all the Haverford series articles. Fascinating! I knew a little of what was covered in the articles when my son was making decisions about college applications last summer and fall, but I think I'm glad I hadn't read those articles! It would have made me more anxious about the process, even than he and I were. Ha.</p>
<p>He quickly narrowed down the type of school that appealed to him (small LACs) and then we looked at academic reputation, need-based aid policies, we visited some top schools, he met coaches, and so forth. The school where he has just begun his freshman year became a top choice early on, however there were two others that were also high on his list. He felt like he wanted the possible advantage of an ED application, but never tried to negotiate with coaches over that. Once he decided on where to apply ED (and after I did research and was comfortable with the financial aid aspect), he just sent an email to the coach saying he'd decided to apply ED and would appreciate the coach putting in a good word for him if the coach felt so inclined. At that point my son knew he'd have a place on the team, but he didn't know if the coach was willing to use any influence he might have in the admission process. He was going to apply ED in any case, because it was his first choice school for multiple reasons, and his grades and test scores were in range with accepted students. .......Reading through those NYT articles I realize now we were a bit naive, though. ;)</p>
<p>Anyway, he got back a very enthusiastic email from the coach saying he was delighted my son had decided to apply ED and how he really hoped it would work out that my son got accepted. He did. Shortly after that the coach phoned and said congratulations and how he was happy to hear he was admitted. The coach also said "we had you on our list!" I didn't really know what that meant until I read those NYT articles this morning.</p>
<p>My son didn't tell the other coaches he'd been communicating with about his ED application. We weren't all that savvy, but it's common sense that it would suggest to those other schools they weren't my son's top choice and that it might come back to hurt their interest in him later if it came to RD applications. He did really like 2 other schools and didn't want to compromise his chances there in RD should his ED application at his first choice school not work out.</p>
<p>Only one coach in all his coach meetings pushed an ED application. (That school didn't end up being a favorite of his anyway for other reasons.) I appreciate that the other coaches didn't put him in that position and that he came to the decision on his own. Anyway, it all worked out well and getting that ED decision (with great financial aid) early in his senior year was fantastic. It made the rest of the year one where he could focus on his academic work and his sport, and not a lot of extended anxiety about where he was going to college.</p>
<p>He's as happy as a clam now. Freshman orientation was this past week, classes start tomorrow.</p>