<p>So I recieved a letter from the men's head track and field coach at USNA for my performance at a state track meet last spring. I called him up and he told me he would "help" me get accepted...I'm curious how much help he actually provides. If anyone knows or has any experience with what I'm talking about, I'd appreciate it! Thanks</p>
<p>-David</p>
<p>same question- though i havent been contacted, i have contacted wp and usna about my 400 times.</p>
<p>dash- what event do you run? what were your times? how did you place in your state?</p>
<p>From what I've heard, being recruited by a sports coach is a definite plus in the admissions game. Doesn't make up for bad grades, but it apparently does help.</p>
<p>I was state champ in the 800 (Michigan) w/ a 1:54.5. I believe Mr. Cooksey (usna track coach) mailed letters to all state champs last year..I also ran the 4x8 (new state record 7:49.something). I run the 400 as well, but I have yet to break 50...I'm right on the edge though! , how about yourself chillax?</p>
<p>-David</p>
<p>Our daughter was recruited to swim. The way it was explained to us was this: the athletic department has a representative on the admissions board. This rep assists with the preparation of the athlete's admissions packet and presents it to the admissions board. The rep apparently has the ability to decide when to present particular files, showing them when they appear to best advantage.</p>
<p>As I understand it, there are a certain number of candidates who are accepted for athletics when their academics might not qualify them. Coaches are looking for recruits who meet the academic standards so that they don't have to play that particular card. </p>
<p>So, I guess some athletes can get appointments without having superior grades, but it does take some assistance to make that happen. In DD's case, the coach basically kept me calm while we were going through the process of obtaining a vision waiver. Poor guy!</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>While coaches can make their preferences known, they can't work miracles. You will need the grades and sat scores to stand up on their own merrit.</p>
<p>Coaches can also make their preferences known for NAPS and the foundation program if the academic side of things needs to be strengthened. Just keep in mind there are lots of varsity programs at USNA, and lots of coaches, each with their own list of hopefulls. </p>
<p>Bottom line: make your candidate file the strongest it can be- give the coaches something to work with. Remain realistic: there will be other stellar athletes vying for the same spots- and only so many to go around....and the coaches will no doubt support the candidates they feel have a reasonably good chance of making it through the admissions board. This is not to discourage you, but rather encourage you to keep on working and present the strongest application you can put together. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>49.92 is my pr out of the blocks in the 400.</p>
<p>ive run a 49.45 in relay (anchoring)</p>
<p>
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they can't work miracles
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</p>
<p>I've seen the miracles they can work though. I played soccer with a kid in HS who never thought about applying to USNA until around Christmas of our senior year. Miraculously he was admitted to USNA for that year. I meanwhile was going through the whole process for two years. He was a stellar soccer player who ended up failing out of the Academy after plebe year. </p>
<p>Bottom line: if you are a superstar they can work miracles. If you're mediocre you need the grades too.</p>
<p>
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He was a stellar soccer player who ended up failing out of the Academy after plebe year.
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</p>
<p>My 3/C roommate, except he was a wrestler.</p>
<p>Missed you at the reunion, Larry. Would have been great to have you there. :(</p>
<p>Navy coaches do have some significant influence (call it miracles if you want) with the admissions board. However, anybody admitted to the academy must be able to pass the academics and meet the graduation requirements. This is different from civilian colleges where, for example, you will see football players earn only 60 or 65 credits in four years as well as never earning a degree. The academy does have standards that everybody (including athletes) must adhere to.</p>
<p>GA: great point, the coaches may be able to get you in, but they can't keep you there if you don't keep up academically.</p>
<p>While the coaches may have some influence, realistically, how often will they use their "trumph card" for a candidate? One candidate? Two? An entire roster? Hmmm.....</p>
<p>There is a limit as to what they can do, and for how many they can do it for. And while candidate "A" may be a superstar, there are lots of superstars that apply- and have the grades to back it up- that will stand on their own merrit. The academy is full of them.</p>
<p>I think it would be a huge mistake to count on a coach to pull for you....and I would encourage every candidate, athlete or otherwise, not to count on them. If it works out, great, but put your effort- all of your effort- into your grades and making your candidate file the stongest you can possibly make it. If the coach can help you from there, you are that much ahead- but don't count on it as a "given." IMHO.</p>
<p>Which is NOT to say that a candidate should't contact the coaches if applicable- do make that contact, and make it early. Most rosters are filled by junior year, and some candidates are on the radar screen well before that. Attend a summer camp. Make your interest known.<br>
And in the meantime, get your GPA and SAT scores the hightest they can be.</p>
<p>Best of luck to everyone- if you have what it takes, the academy will find you. And kp makes a great point- even if a coach has the ability to get you in, miracle or otherwise, they can't keep you in if you don't make it academically. No matter how great a superstar you are.</p>
<p>Best of luck to everyone!</p>
<p>I confess mine is mostly speculation and anecdotal observation, but ...</p>
<p>I believe it would be sorely naive to believe there is not substantial and pervasive involvement of athletic coaches in admission, at least when it comes to the major sports ... football & hoops.</p>
<p>While a different gig, and this has been mentioned awhile back, it was noted that literally all of the USAF football team attended that academy's prep school, with the point intended being, there was extensive intervention. I cannot imagine USNA is dramatically different. </p>
<p>Again speculating, but I'd not hold my breath if I were a marginal overall candidate aside from having a heckuva backstroke. Now, if I am the same and happen to be an all-state linebacker, that may be an entirely different story. </p>
<p>Let's get real here folks. This is Division I-A football with major consequences and visibility. Conversely, we happened to be on campus the Saturday of the conference swimming championships. Had we failed to note the deluge exiting Lejeune we'd have not had a clue anything special was happening.</p>
<p>For too many years, the acads reaped the consequences of failing to recognize the consequences of treating football like lacrosse.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies, they have been helpful. My grades meet the median of those accepted for last year's class as well as c/o 2010. My academy app is all done, nominations are almost done, I scored very well at NASS and at the BGO interview, so I think the coach may help me get over the edge..who knows...I can only hope..anyway thanks for the help/ideas/encouragement.</p>
<p>-David</p>
<p>david- best of luck to you- hope you make it!</p>
<p>Coaches can have varying degree of influence but the candidate still needs to be qualified academically, physically and medically. If the candidate falls below academic standards then they may be offered a prep school option. A coach can exert varying degrees of influence from having a candidate on their "wish list" to designating a candidate as a blue chip recruit in their sport. The number of blue chip slots in any given sport is controlled by the athletic department. If a candidate is qualified and the coach has designated the candidate as a blue chip recruit then you are pretty much in. Don't count on one of these slots though as there are not many of them and you will need to be the cream of the crop to secure one of these spots.</p>
<p>i recently recieved a letter from west point that told me i was "an official recruit for track" i would assume that this means i will be on the coach's wish-list. Even at D3 schools the amoutn of "blue chips" will be low, so athletes must truly be great to get into an institution based off pure athletiscm.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i recently recieved a letter from west point that told me i was "an official recruit for track" i would assume that this means i will be on the coach's wish-list. Even at D3 schools the amoutn of "blue chips" will be low, so athletes must truly be great to get into an institution based off pure athletiscm.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Although you may be on a coach's "wish list" doesn't necessarily mean you would be in a spot in which one was on the fast track for admission. Not to knock track, but it isn't one of the high profile sports and probably wouldn't garner the same pull as say a football player might. On the same hand I think if you are a competitive applicant without track and you received this letter I would say you are now a "very" competitive candidate.</p>
<p>*Navy graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes in 16 of the 19 sports *</p>
<p>For the second year in a row, the United States Naval Academy is at the head of the class for graduating NCAA student-athletes on the Division IA level. Navy graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes in 16 of the 19 sports reported on and no sport graduated lower than 97 percent. </p>
<p>"Our student-athletes continually strive to set the standard on the playing fields, in the classroom and in Bancroft Hall," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "The support and encouragement they receive through the Commandant and his staff and the academic dean's office is extraordinary and provides tremendous motivation to be successful across the board. We are all proud to be leaders on the field, but even more so when we can prove to be leaders in the classroom as well. It clearly defines the true meaning of student-athlete." </p>
<p>Graduation Success Rate Report</p>
<p>Sport Navy's Graduation Percentage National Graduation Percentage</p>
<p>Baseball 97 47
Men's Basketball 100* 45
Men's CC/Track 97 60
Football 98* 55
Golf 100* 61
Gymnastics 100* 73
Men's Lacrosse 100* 76
Rifle 100* 62
Men's Soccer 100* 58
Men's Swimming 100* 68
Tennis 100* 63
Water Polo 100* 71
Wrestling 100* 53
Women's Basketball 100* 65
Women's CC/Track 100* 68
Women's Crew 100* 76
Women's Soccer 100* 70
Women's Swimming 100* 75
Volleyball 100* 70 </p>
<p>*No. 1 in the country</p>
<p>Truly, the midshipmen are student-athletes. :)</p>
<p>Once you are designated an "official" recruit, it will impact the contact that others from the Academy may have with you. I believe that Blue & Gold officers follow some very specific guidelines with officially designated recruits as well. They are very careful to follow the NCAA guidelines. In our case, my Mid initiated much of the contact with the BGO after being designated a recruit. That is perfectly OK. Careful records will be kept on each and every contact with an official recruit.</p>