<p>Hey people,</p>
<p>I'm a senior in high school applying to colleges right now. </p>
<p>I started my very first season of Cross Country ever this year [I did triathlons before this]. I am training with a nationally recognized coach, and so far, things are going pretty well (only had one meet, it was in Santa Barbara, and I ran 18:45 for a 3 mile course. Not too bad for the first try, I'm definitely thinking sub 18 next race, and my goal is sub 17 by end of season).</p>
<p>Now, I have very competitive academics/test scores/other extra-curriculars. (4.0/4.0 GPA at a top 100 national high school, 35 ACT. I'm interested in running in college. </p>
<p>I'm applying Early Decision to UPenn, and also am applying Early Action to MIT. I want to contact those XC coaches about the recruitment and express some interest, but I'm wary because this is my first year running. State in CA won't be until November.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me advice on what to do? Even though my times suck currently, I'm thinking with my academics and limited experience (with lots of room to quickly improve), they might take a chance on me? I appreciate any insight on the recruitment process.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>All you can do it try, but I think your chance are very low to get any help with admissions from the coaches. They have lots of applicants who do have the times and experience, plus the academics.</p>
<p>Good luck. Maybe you’ll have a great race and someone will take notice.</p>
<p>@twoinand I know the chances are low, but I don’t want to look foolish for trying. So you’d recommend emailing a coach and briefly laying out the situation and expressing interest?</p>
<p>I have no idea if you have a chance or not. Can you get your times within a competitive range for those schools? Are you coming in in the top 10 in your meets now? Ask your current coaches if you are competitive for the schools you are looking at. They’ll know.</p>
<p>I think the answer you are going to get from college coaches is ‘contact us when you get here’ but receive no help in admissions. I don’t think you’ll look foolish because the coaches get inquiries from hundreds of students every year, but only a small number will receive admissions help.</p>
<p>Agree with what others are telling you - There is no harm in emailing the coaches with exactly what you have told us…You are applying to their school, have just taken up cross country, these are my times, here are my grades and ask them if there is any possible way to be part of the team. </p>
<p>What you want to do is get on their radar. Admissions help is highly unlikely without proven times, and cross country tends to have smart athletes (sorry if this is a gross stereotype, but it does seem to hold true). However, if you don’t contact them I can guarantee you that nothing will happen. </p>
<p>Coaches will likely tell you to contact them after you are admitted, but at least you will hear if and when there may be tryouts and if you can show solid performance for outdoor track you may earn a spot on the team. You don’t mention track season, but at the collegiate level, most schools expect middle and distance athletes to run cross country and vice versa. </p>
<p>Actually, the smart cross country runners stereotype does hold quite true, especially in relation to other sports.</p>
<p>I’ll contact a few coaches to begin with anyways. </p>
<p>If I run an excellent time during the state race at Mt. Sac in November, will that be too late to be considered for a ‘boost’ in the admissions process for ED? I would think so.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice by the way!</p>