My D, an athlete, recently received an offer for an “early read” from a Swarthmore coach, followed by “From here we can get a good idea where you might stand and put together an overnight visit for the fall.” Interested in folks’ experience with similar experiences with Swarthmore and what it all means?
D has a 4.0/4.35 and 34 on ACT, in case that has any impact on your views…
Thanks!
@ajw An early read will provide you with some feedback on the possible admission for your child. It’s not a yes if the response back is favorable, but for those that might academically struggle it could provide some negative feedback if the school thought it would be difficult for her to get in / perform once accepted.
My 2 cents is that the process is about mentally engaging you and your child early, so you are more likely to apply to Swarthmore than another highly competitive school. By creating a connection, the coaches are hoping they can get you to apply ED. That’s the coaches best shot at getting athletes who can help the team AND run the academic admissions gauntlet. If your child really wants to be at a school and can help the team, it’s a great way to make your application stand out. If you don’t apply ED after the pre-read…I would suggest that much of the advantage of the pre-read is gone.
Nearly all of the highly selective schools do it, but be warned it guarantees nothing.
@AJW: it is perfectly reasonable for you or your D to ask the coach about the recent success of athletes who applied. My understanding is that most coaches have a pretty good record since it is in no one’s interest to have a recommended applicant rejected. Your D appears to have a very strong record so I would take it seriously if the coach says the odds are strong. The Dean of Admissions is also very accessible (he talked to a group of prospective athletes and their parents when our D attended a sports camp at Swarthmore the summer between sophomore and junior year).
@AJW: the following thread may be of interest: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/haverford-college/1478948-athletic-recruits-at-haverford-beware.html
If you read the thread suggested by @coase, read the last comment first. The thread is locked, as one (apparently angry) person created several accounts to reinforce their concerns.
^Yes, the thread was closed down, so one should read it with a jaundiced eye. At the same time, the thread only went off the rails recently, so the first few pages are untainted. Moreover, the thread should cause recruited athletes and their parents to ask questions, which is a good thing.
Several years ago, there was a very good series about DIII athletic recruiting by Bill Pennington in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/sports/2005_RECRUIT_SERIES.html
ALW – ACT 34 is great. You’re 90% there! However and ED1 is a precious commodity. After D confirms her interest, talk to the coach and ask “What is the probability of admission?” And remember nothing is guaranteed. Have an ED2 school in your back pocket.