<p>In my D’s experience, her high school coach and club coach belonged to “the coachs’ network.” They highly recommended certain programs and told her to avoid others. Coaches seem to recognize (better than families sometimes) the best potential matches. They recommended a variety of programs from one Ivy League, many Big East, one ACC and several smaller schools known for their liberal arts programs (no need to name them here).
She is an outstanding athlete with 3.7 (uw), 4.4 weighted and 1900 SAT. She was offered a spot at every school that the coaches recommended. They highly supported her applications to the sports programs because she followed their guidance. Many of these coaches are long term friends and the network is very powerful.</p>
<p>i think there is some subtle influences going on from athlete to coaches about difficult recruits, but these problem athletes are still recruited and on top teams. Now if you’re not a top performing athlete than your attitude is probably going to really hurt your opportunities. But for the top 10% is a sport the attitude thing is not that significant. And college coaches are pretty good about shaping someone up, if needed.</p>
<p>My D is a Field Hockey player from California. She was recruited summer Jr/Sr Year by an IVY (Brown). Her grades were OK, 3.5 weighted at a top public school. Her test scores were awful (SAT 1500) and they couldn’t get her through admissions during the pre-read. </p>
<p>The disappointment drove her to study all summer for the Sept ACT where she scored a 28, which is good enough for Brown’s AI. Unfortunately, by the time those scores came back in late September, the ED slots were gone. She was offered the option of being a recruited athlete during regular admissions. Instead she went for the sure thing by November with a great University of California school.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most valuable lesson we learned during the process was the tremendous number of opportunities for top athletes at Div III schools. Amazing academic schools like Hopkins, Haverford, and Tufts rarely get a shot at true DI caliber athletes. One tier below IVY’s, who don’t give athletic scholarships anyway, these schools give large ‘academic’ scholarships to 3.5 GPA athletes willing to trade ‘down’ to DIII. </p>
<p>Two girls from my D HS team got recruited to dream schools, Yale and MIT. They both were 4.0+ GPA kids with test scores in the 99%. I admire the hard work these kids put into their academics and studies. Unlike my daughter they weren’t all State Players, but that didn’t matter. On the other hand, maybe I’m the lucky one in all this. My D is going in State and has an athletic scholarship. These other girls are going to have an amazing education that over four years will cost their parents a more amazing $225K.</p>
<p>^ No way to know what the girls families are paying until they get the finaid packages from Yale/MIT…both are FAFSA and CSS Profile schools…
Each family chooses whats best for them and invests their dollars accordingly.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that an in-state worked for your situation.</p>
<p>Also a good point about those schools who might want the ivy/D1 scholar-athletes. Those schools/coaches -if they want those athletes- need to actively recruit and sweeten the pot.</p>
<p>Those lucky Dads(and Moms) I know with recruited athletes D’s at Yale/MIT are working stiffs who make too much for any financial aid ($150K-$200K yr). They’ll be paying retail for those fabulous educations. </p>
<p>The DIII coaches my daughter got interest from were from her email marketing efforts. So if anyone is considering that path keep in mind those coaches don’t waste their
time going after top DI type recruits because its normally a waste of their time. </p>
<p>Generally I found DIII coaches less proactive in their recruiting, though they were thrilled when they heard from my D, and she instantly become their #1 recruit.</p>
<p>Those with more experience in these matters had counseled me in the beginning
of this process to go DIII, though, frankly, I was too smitten with the sound of DI over DIII. </p>
<p>Any parents(or athletes) reading this I suggest you explore that option fully.</p>
<p>As I told my son- “You are the cream of D3, honey”. And with a finals finish at the NESCAC his freshman year, I was correct. Nothing wrong with above average athletic potential, plus fab grades and decent SATs…</p>
<p>ya, we’re one of those working stiffs:) when did 200k a year become working stiff, but it is true out here in CA.</p>
<p>I know the 200k+ I’ll spend if her athletic scholarship doesn’t increase means fewer things for me. but what the heck I’ve watched most people spend that money making their boxes bigger, and I’ve yet to see a house love someone back.</p>
<p>And the feeling she has being on the number one team in the world! worth every penny!</p>
<p>^^^^How wonderful for you and your D1</p>
<p>Can I ask what you mean by one top school having a blow out this year? Is that good or bad? Are you willing to give any details?</p>
<p>^ fwiw, it was bad.</p>
<p>a particular D1 school’s coaches had a very difficult time getting recruits through admission…during the early round.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to know the “why” as no athlete or parent is behind closed doors to hear what Admissions had to say…for example, if it were grades/scores…the acaemic side…</p>
<p>and it’s difficult to know what the coaches meant/said since it was so “unusual”</p>
<p>and it’s difficult to know if more highly desired athletes had signed NLI earlier in the fall
and perhaps the coaches were too optimistic to get more athletes through…
and then perhaps there just wasn’t enough room on a list of preferred recruits who hadn’t signed NLI…</p>
<p>In the end it seems that several recruits were left with nothing Dec 15 with that U…and had to scramble to try and get in elsewhere as recruited student-athletes </p>
<p>The other option was taking their chances in the RD rounds as students and to just walk on…</p>
<p>One athlete in this forum had some options and landed on his/her feet.</p>
<p>Thanks! Do you know if these recruits each signed a NLI? I’m wondering how common it is for an athlete with a NLI to end up being rejected by admissions at a top academic school.</p>
<p>i believe all athletes, at all schools, are already accepted before they sign a nli</p>
<p>This is incorrect. Although rare, there have been well publicized cases of top athletes who have signed NLIs that did not get admitted to the school. If there is a steep academic decline, discipline problems or trouble with the law, acceptance can be in jeopardy, just like with any other student. Also, the NLI doesn’t guarantee admission. In the contract, there is wording about it being null and void if admission is denied. My daughter signed a NLI in November, but will not have her official acceptance until April 1st because she chose not to apply ED. She had not made a decision yet and it was before signing day.</p>
<p>daisyG - No, we didn’t sign NLI’s. The scholarship amount was tbd by spring erg scores.</p>