My D is a rising junior who is being recruited by several Ivy League schools and several NESCAC schools. We live in the Midwest, so it is more challenging for coaches to see her and for us to visit colleges. She attended several Ivy elite camps this summer, which was helpful. Given distance and scheduling challenges, there are limited opportunities for her to travel out East in order to visit campuses. Here is my question:
Her Fall break is in late-October and we would fly out to visit her top two NESCAC schools during that time. I have not read anything on this forum regarding campus recruiting visits during Fall of junior year. Is this generally accepted or frowned upon by schools? Would schools be willing to have her spend time with the team as a junior?
thanks!
We took my S to visit Ivy schools and NESCAC schools at the beginning of his junior year, too. He met with the coach, sat in on classes, and met with professors during those visits. He also met the teams, watched them practice/compete, etc. The only thing he was not permitted to do as a junior vs a senior is stay overnight on the campus.
Good luck to your D!
Shuttlebus - Thanks so much for the info. I think we will go ahead with the trip this Fall. Not being able to stay overnight on campus isn’t a big deal. To be able to visit campus with students around, meet the coaches/players, and get a feel for the program would be very worthwhile.
Taiw, the Nescac website clarifies the following: “A prospect may not make an official visit until the opening day of classes of the prospect’s senior year.” We recently have debated the distinction between official and unofficial visits in the NESCAC (not much, in my view). Your daughter would be too early for an “official” visit to a Nescac School. But, as Shuttlebus suggests, your can still visit and spend a good deal of time with the team in the context of an unofficial visit. I see absolutely no down side in showing desire to attend the school by making an unofficial visit in the junior year – in fact, I think a coach would love that type of initiative. They have a limited recruiting budget, and any time a talented athlete shows strong interest, they are only too happy to reciprocate.
Best of luck.
The unofficial visit can only provide so much to the visitor, which I think is tickets to a game and perhaps one meal. I don’t think the visitor can participate in any way in a practice.
Some sports have spring ‘juniordays’ but I think those are considered a camp and not a visit.
Twoinanddone - Thanks for your advice. I agree that the difference between an official and unofficial visit for NESCAC schools is relatively trivial. Given how hard it is to travel out East during the school year, we will take advantage of the Fall break to look at two schools. Looking forward to it.