How does division 3 recruiting work?

College Search & Selection
1

I am a sophomore in high school, a varsity basketball standout(on varsity squad freshman and sophomore year, started every game this year, started 2 last year), and a scholar. Looking to go to a NESCAC school, such as Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates (my top 3, respectively. Visiting Bowdoin though, so we’ll see.). The Bowdoin coach has invited me to the Bowdoin women’s basketball “Junior Day” even though I’m a sophomore, she said that I am a “top recruit” for the class of 2018. I’ll be attending more showcases and prospect days like the Bowdoin “Junior Day” in the future. I’ll have the opportunity to see the campus, meet the team/coaches, eat in the Bowdoin dining hall, etc.

I know I am getting far ahead of myself, but with recent interest from the Bowdoin coach, I can’t help but be curious. I’m going to create a hypothetical situation to make this easier to perceive.

So, let’s say the Bowdoin coach expresses a lot of interest in me after seeing my film (she already has seen my film), meeting me, and seeing me play in person. If she makes it clear that she wants me, will I make some kind of commitment (like all of my friends are doing for division 1 lacrosse)? Will a coach express real, serious interest in me at the end of my sophomore year or some time during my junior year? Or, will the coach have admissions utilize a “preread” for me in the summer before senior year? (Can someone further explain exactly what a preread is?) Would I just apply ED 1 senior year and would the coach tell me prior that I would be guaranteed admission because they would have pull in admissions?

I’m certainly qualified for Midd, Bowdoin, and Bates in terms of grades and ECs, but I’m a white female from the Northeast (“the toughest Middlebury demographic”, someone told me on a previous thread). Being a recruited athlete for basketball could really open up some doors for me.

I’ve read into it a bit, but clearly I need more of a rundown. Thank you!

2

try posting in this forum: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/athletic-recruits/

3

Sports can certainly tip the scale at these schools. My son was recruited by them and Patriot League schools, which are D1.

The pre-read is critical. We knew in July. The pre-reads vary. Bates was wonderfully written out while Bowdoin was simply “safe to recruit”. You can also do a financial aid review at this point.

You make a commitment through applying Early Decision. You don’t have to but since you know all the pre-read results it is not an issue. For athletes ED is very different.

A pre-read is sending your Junior year transcripts, test scores, official schedule for senior year and your school’s profile. This is done in Spring. You don’t need an NCAA number for D3. Admissions will review and tell the coach one of two things. You can get in or the coach will have to use a C Band to get you in. Don’t count on that. If you don’t get a clean pre-read, move on. Also NESCAC schools cannot issue " likely letters".

Also coaches prefer B Band recruits because they have a better shot at landing the athlete.

Next Winter at the latest, do all the online recruiting questionnaires to start the process.

4

Thank you to you both for that valuable information.

@OnTheBubble , so I would not be able to confirm that I am going to a school for basketball until I hear back from admissions about my ED application (which would probably be December of my senior year)? What are “likely letters”?

I have filled out at least 10 questionnaires for various schools in the NESCAC and other D3 conferences already.

5

@OnTheBubble

“You don’t have to but since you know all the pre-read results it is not an issue. For athletes ED is very different.”

^Can you further explain this part? What’s my other option if I “don’t have to”? Thanks for all the advice, you’re a huge help! :slight_smile:

6

USNWR profiled a Bowdoin athlete with a 3.3 GPA and 1650 SAT. If, in your case, you are a recognized accomplished athlete AND you have scholarly credentials, you’re in at this school in my opinion.

7

Technically a pre-read is not an acceptance but it is reliable. It’s always possible you get rejected. You will not be accepted until you apply and wait for the decision. Technically, you are not accepted to a NESCAC school based on sports.There are no scholarships.

Ivy League schools issue likely letters, which say you are likely to get accepted. NESCAC schools cannot issue them.

Your other options are EDII and regular decision. However, you will start this process months before other students and you will have some guidance on whether you will get accepted, so you are not wasting an ED opportunity. The vast majority of NESCAC recruits apply ED. It is your call. If you need backing from the coach as most B Band recruits need, you should apply ED. The coach may move on from you if you don’t apply ED. All depends. The process is much different for athletes, you will have made multiple visits and will do an overnight before you apply so you can decide if that school is where you want to go by November.

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@OnTheBubble and @merc81

Thank you for clearing that up for me! I feel a lot more comfortable plunging into this process!

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The athlete referred to in post #5 was a quarterback for the football team. That is not the norm. Don’t take this lightly.

10

“USNWR profiled a Bowdoin athlete with a 3.3 GPA and 1650 SAT. If, in your case, you are a recognized accomplished athlete AND you have scholarly credentials, you’re in at this school in my opinion.”

A recruit like that is extremely, extremely rare. Like maybe “one every few years” sort of rare.

The overwhelming majority of recruited athletes at NESCAC schools are well-qualified for admission to the school. Being a recruited athlete just gets them plucked out of the pile over the hordes of other well-qualified applicants in the pool.

11

“quarterback” (#8)

He was recruited for the offensive backfield, but as a running back, not a quarterback.

12

My D3 recruiting experience is with my son’s D3 soccer recruiting but generally consistent with OntheBubble. Keep in mind, coaches are going after a number of players early in the process to keep their options open; as time passes, the list shrinks. Your goal is to stay at the top of that list by maintaining top academic and athletic performance, as well as demonstrating that you would be a credit to the school – you make good decisions, don’t have a problematic social media presence etc.

After the admissions pre-read, which in soccer happened in summer before senior year, the coach will communicate with the prospect about their admissions and recruitment status. NESCAC is a sports conference which follows specific format for recruiting, so the process can be more clear (sometimes, can depend on the sport and coach).

Ideally, you want to hear the coach say something like “Admissions’ response was very positive, prospects with your academic portfolio have always been admitted in my experience when Admissions gave a similar pre-read result, and you are my top recruit at your position. You have a roster spot on my team for (1-2 years, depends on the sport) if you apply ED.” Coaches may be reluctant to offer roster spots for more than 2 years out, since there are two many variables which can change, and coaches we talked to said that, after 2 years, players are either central to the team or it’s time for them to move on and find other activities on campus.

At that point, you decide if that school is your top choice, apply ED (usually a Nov 1 deadline) and, depending on the school, will hear your admissions decision at the end of Dec or early Jan.

Keep in mind D3 schools, such as the NESCAC schools, do NOT give athletic scholarships and they do not give any merit based scholarships – it is financial aid or nothing. So, an important conversation to have soon with your family is about college finances – ask them to run the Net Price Calculator on the website of a few schools of interest to get a projected financial aid assessment (it is anonymous). If you cannot afford to pay the amount the college projects you are expected to pay, then you need to reassess your college choices. Some D3 schools outside of NESCAC do give merit awards to students who enhance the college’s stats, typically students in the top 25% of the admitted student body. So, that can become another route to funding the gap between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs. Most of the NESCAC schools are around $60-65,000 a year for tuition and room and board and it will be more by the time you start in two years, so start the financial conversation with your parents.

Congrats on the expression of interest from the coach, and good luck!

13

@Midwestmomofboys

Thank you so much! That was the most insightful piece of advice I could have ever asked for.