I’d advise the GC to look upward.
https://amp.businessinsider.com/the-610-smartest-colleges-in-america-2015-9
Kinda done with being spoken down to on this thread so saying sayonara. I will leave y’all by reiterating the main premise of my thread: I am crazy lucky that a sport is getting me into a top school as a mediocre student at a mediocre high school!
At a typical school in flyover country, I would not be surprised if the GC didn’t know if Pomona or Bard were more selective, or which one is in CA and which one in NY. They are probably vaguely aware that they are colleges. Because almost no one ever applies to those type of schools, and the GCs are stretched too thin to worry about something that only comes up a couple of times in a career. We usually have a few kids every year applying to Ivy and similar, maybe 1-2 admits. When I look at Naviance, there are only a couple total apps to NESCAC schools everyone, and there are 1500 kids in the HS.
People unfamiliar with athletic recruiting shouldn’t give advice based on just what they read here. You need to be sure you are offered a slot, or whatever the school calls it. And then ask what that means. ALWAYS ask the coach how solid that is, and be specific with questions like “how many times has someone with a slot not been admitted”, etc. Usually it’s pretty solid. Even if for a younger athlete it’s solid, although in that case there are probably test score targets that need to be hit. And it is always conditional on maintaining grades, staying out of trouble, and at least putting some effort into the application and essays.
The coaching world is small, and relies on both sides needing to be able to trust each other. Coaches quickly get a reputation, for better or worse. The one S committed to has a good enough reputation we didn’t even ask for a likely letter. I knew his verbal assurance was enough. (Not that I recommend that for Ivy normally). Another coach at a P5 program I didn’t trust at all. And I’ve seen him lose several recruits for that reason. Usually if there is a problem, everyone knows about it.
@jackhenry1 Please come back and let us know if you get in.
Congratulations on your achievements. Sorry some posters seem intent on attacking you, but I’m sure most of us understand that you are feeling good about your good fortune, and not the failings/misfortune of others.
I would disagree that you are a mediocre student. You are in the top 10% of your class, have 1440 SATs, and are talented/successful enough in your sport to get noticed and recruited.
Enjoy your success, you have earned it, in the classroom and the field.
@JackHenry1 I agree with @txazparent . My son is hoping to be recruited, and we are in the process, so I can understand where you are coming from!
Yes I know all about clubs posting college “commitments” for D3 I have seen it all before especially in soccer and hoops. There is no commitment to a college to celebrate however prior to your admissions letter. You can commit to the admissions PROCESS. But in the interest of self promotion and money making, club sports at the HS level put daily tweets out completely disregarding this edict by the NCAA. Some even have fake NLI signings. There is no letter of intent at the D3 level. And yes I have heard of Dennison in Ohio and think very highly of it. Its a great school. So commit to the process and we hope to hear good news from you in December. And I think you should expect more of your GC, personally as it is such a good school.
@waverlywizzard: It doesn’t appear that the OP has personally been considering Denison.
Jmho, but theres a difference between, "don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched " and outright dismissing a kid.
If it turns out OP has this locked, great. But the final word comes later.
“What kind of GC “has never heard of your liberal arts colleges”?”
This does not surprise me at all. My daughter goes to a good high school in the midwest. MOST of the top students from her school go to the state flagship school because it’s a good one and affordable. If they want to be different they go to the state next door because of reciprocity. Our experience with her GC is she was not particularly knowledgeable when it came to out of state schools, especially smaller, private schools.