High School recruit offered admissions support at NESCAC school. How much aid do they give football players to handle the academic rigor
Support will vary by school and, beyond something like a writing center, likely even by major. There is no single NESCAC standard.
You will have to investigate based on the school. In your previous posts, you indicated that his course load was rigorous. If he has good time management skills, that will help. If he needs accommodations, he’ll need self-advocacy skills to get what he needs.
I know you have been worried about this. Can you think about what he gets from his IEP now and then frame your “can he get this?” from that?
My hunch is that in general, students are expected to have a strategy for executive functioning issues by college but that accommodations for extra time testing, for example, are available. An IEP for something like dyslexia might be harder to replicate in college.
3 Likes
Agree with the above. Has you S asked the coach what support resources are available at the school? Fundamentally, your S will have to do the work. There is also a pretty wide range of academic intensity at the NESCAC schools.
1 Like
Try a search on “specific school” and “academic success.” When I tried that for one NESCAC school I was brought right to a page discussing the process for getting accomodations, and a guide for faculty on how to incorporate some common accommodations.
I have seen first hand how accommodations can really help certain students at the college level. It doesn’t make the course material easier, it just packages teaching and/or assessment in a way that works for how the student is wired. If you child has been successful in rigorous high school classes with an IEP, there is no reason it won’t work in college, too.
What do you mean academic intensity. Currently offered at Trinity College. I think this is the less rigorous of the NESCAC schools. But certainly son will have hard time since never have taken AP looking to go in Econ majorany thoughts
This is exactly how my son is. He was offered at Trinity and spoke to academic support department who stated they will read his evaluations and provide the appropriate accommodations. I am just wondering while staying in the sme frame work as the course is there different pace levels depending on the subject material.
There will not be different paces. He will have to keep up. But there will be resources to help him do that.
1 Like
Trinity seems to have deemphasized standardized testing to a much greater degree than even other test-optional NESCACs, with only 17% of applicants for the class of 2025 having submitted standardized scores. Partly for this reason, it seems Trinity may be developing a general philosophy of education that accommodates a greater range of student approaches to learning.
2 Likes
Do you or anyone know the how Trinity resources are. He was on an IEP and did not take AP but worked his butt off and had all A’s. The fear is that his academic level in High School is well below academic curve of NESCAC schools and since Trinity not slighting the school appears on the surface to be the less rigorous of the NESCAC with support could he thrive. My concern is that the College prep courses he was taking in school and the speed and resources offered at his High school will not be matched in College and he will be overwhelmed
@Determined27 , I don’t think Trinity has lower standards or less rigor per se. What you may want to think about is what classes he has to take and what he wants to take.
Don’t forget that while the demands may be high, taking only 4 classes at a time, rather than 7 or 8, can really be helpful for many students. And unlike high school, he won’t have to be devoting time and energy to courses he hates or than don’t play to his strengths. For many high schoolers, being a jack of all trades, and a good one at that, is exhausting and they really excel when they can channel their energy into what excites them and what comes more naturally.
I have a friend whose D was a very lackluster college applicant for this reason - reallyweak in math and science in particular. In college, she focused on the two subjects in which she excelled, got great grades, and is now in her first year at a top law school. Don’t underestimate how much “not having to do it all” can change things!
1 Like
This is important. The college disability office might grant certain accommodations but it will be up to the STUDENT to advocate for himself to make sure he gets them. There is no case manager to chase your college student down and remind them to complete assignments, go to the writing center or tutoring center, or ask the prof for something like extended time on exams. This will be up to the student to do for themselves.
1 Like
This has never been his seeking out help he advocates for himself. I am hoping the fact that he only has to focus on 4 courses per semester will help. In addition Monday through Thursday all athletes have to report to a team study hall for 2 hours and there are tutors available inside those sessions as well. I am just hoping the fact that he did not right a large papers in High School and the fact that he does have the resources there once he seeks them out will it be enough. I even urged him to take a Course in the summer to even lighten his load even more. My fear is that the sports is a big commitment so that will take up his time. I just want to make sure he thrives academically. I am going to assist him in making sure the support structures are in place. Just do not know how hard the workload there is and if too much given the fact he is taking entry level courses versus AP courses.
Your S will have to clear this with Trinity before taking an outside class. AFAIK, Trinity doesn’t give credit for many classes taken elsewhere.
Agree that he has to be proactive and access all of the help he can…the study halls, the writing center, prof office hours, etc. Everyone at Trinity will want him to succeed.
Has your S submitted his ED application?
He is going to apply ED thats what school is mandating not until November 14 he was already offered but weighing his options. He was offered at a couple D2 schools. Just trying to find the right fit for him academically. It is not a financial decision but more importantly which situation he will thrive in academically and athletically. The last thing I want is for him to be overwhelmed mentally and physically. I think no matter what it will be struggle until he gets acclimated. Fortunately, he will seek out help just dont know if the help will be able to allow him to thrive seeing that his high school seemed to coddle him along or push him through whichever way you want to look at it.
What I mean by outside class is a Trinity summer course on line to lighten the academic workload
1 Like
Just to be clear…it’s common that a coach’s verbal offer has a time limit for the recruit to accept. Your S should make sure the Trinity offer is open until the ED deadline, and similarly the D2 school offers are open ended as well. What school does your S want to attend?
Good luck, I understand it’s a difficult decision.
He has been inited for weekend games and is in contact with staffs. He Loves Trinity & Bentley
1 Like
I understand why you are worried about the rigor of Trinity. On the other hand, coaches are not interested in recruiting a football player who can’t do the work and will drop out after the first season. While you know your son better than anyone, the coaches and admissions know the rigor of Trinity better than others. If your kid is admitted, he most likely will be able to perform academically, provided of course he does the studying.
3 Likes
This is what I am counting on. I know my son will seek out help i just am hoping the lack of High School preparation and lack of rigorous academics will not put him so far behind the curve. I am hoping his determination and ability to settle in with a supporting cast around him will enable him to thrive academically
Make sure he sits in on classes - probably more than one – when he visits! He should have a good read from that.
1 Like
While there will be help for the team and some accommodations for your son, I think you are right to be seriously considering how well he will be able to manage. D20 attended a “good college prep high school” that is in the top 25% of our state, took several AP classes and got scores of 5 on all of them. She is attending another LAC that also calls itself “academically rigorous” (not a NESCAC school) and she feels inadequately prepared compared to her classmates. She frequently reads 600-1000 pages a week per class (4) and has a 10 page paper or presentation due every week-10 days in each. She is a humanities student, which is more reading and writing than STEM but her STEM friends are doing hundreds of problem sets and other outside requirements every week.
I think your son needs to have a serious conversation with future teammates about what the typical workload is in different types of classes and how the professors grade. At D’s school, it is impossible to pass without doing the readings as class participation is mandatory, and assessed, in every class. As others have said, no coach wants a student who can’t do the academics and be eligible to play. IMO, I think the most important thing is for your son to make sure he can manage the time commitment of athletics coupled with the demands of the academics.
1 Like