Hello! I am a ninth grader applying to Exeter. I love track, it’s been my favorite sport since I started in middle school. I do jumping events, but my favorite one is high jump. I was the best high jumper on my middle school track and, as a freshman, will be one of the best on the high school team. I think I’m a pretty good athlete, but I wonder if I should even reach out to schools about my athletics? I’m certainly not the best. I don’t wanna post my PRs because that’d give me away, but I can PM them if you want.
@flavor: I’m a mediocre/above average swimmer, so I understand your position. Just email the track coaches and ask them for more information about the teams there and then fill out the Prospective Athlete Form.
IMO, if a prospective applicant does have an above average athletic talent/resume, it can’t hurt to reach out to BS coaches.
However keep in mind that a lot depends on school need in any given year…if Exeter (or any other school you’re applying to) has a deep bench at your particular position/event…then your above average talent/resume won’t matter as much, if at all. If they have no one in a particular position/event, then things look better for you.
Also note that a lot is going to depend on how important any given sport is to that school. For example, at some schools, hockey is very important, so they will seek to field the best team possible (which includes recruiting the best prospects). At that same school, track may be considered a second-class sport and the coach will take what he/she can get.
For a real life example, my frosh daughter could most likely start for any high school team in the country in her sport (and she does at her current BS), and I think her talent/resume made a difference in admissions decisions at two of the schools she applied to, but not for a third. So as with so many things, “it depends”.
A final word of advice is that if you are applying for this cycle (meaning you are waiting to hear news in March 2015), you should reach out to the coaches ASAP.
The other important thing is to express interest in other sports beyond your chosen sport. Young athletes who train year round ( for one sport ) are considered highly desirable game changers but they’re considered even more “valuable” if they’re willing/able to contribute to other teams. My kids trained all year but expressed interest in other sports- mostly as a way to cross train for their chosen sport: Cross Country, Swimming/ Water Polo or Squash, etc.
I remember an Athletic Director ( who was just randomly speaking to applicants/parents waiting for interviews ) asking K2 ( who was over 6ft at the time) if he would be interested in playing Football. Deer meet headlights. So funny. After we left, I was convinced I blurted out: Are you out of your mind!?! But, K2 assured me: No, Mother- You were just thinking it very loudly…
Then he said, Maybe I will play Football. It might be worth it just to see you running down the field yelling, Don’t hurt him!!!
Like SD said- Definitely reach out ASAP if you haven’t done so already.
Contact the coach. There is no way of knowing how much interest he/she will have without a direct conversation. The pull at Exeter during admissions for athletes is a bit less than at other schools. This again varies by sport, as others have noted above.
