<p>If an applicant is a recruited athlete for a college (ie, flown in at the school's expense, wined and dined, etc), what are his/her chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>fendrock-- I don't think there is a standard answer to your question....it all depends...</p>
<p>visiting all expenses paid is certainly a good sign, but the coach needs to prioritize his/her preferences as the deadline approaches, the coach must have admissions pull (sometimes a hard thing to deduce), and the student's other credentials need to pass admissions muster.</p>
<p>My advice is to discuss the possibilities (i.e., where your D/S is on the coach's list, if admissions "pre-read is or will be positive, etc.) directly with the coach, and to also get outside opinions on that particular coach's track record in delivering on promises.</p>
<p>fendrock-- not to dampen the positiveness of being invited for a visit, but here's a story from last year that might put the process in perspective from the coach's standpoint....</p>
<p>last year in early October, I was told by a D3 coach from a well-respected LAC (perhaps not your situation) that he had whittled his "short list" down to 200 or so through the summer, and was now on a calling campaign to about 70 prospective recruits. This number would actually reduce down to 5 to 7 recruits, one or two where he had significant pull assuming a certain level of academic credentials, and maybe another 5 recuits for applicants with comparable academic records as the school's norm. Of course, many of these prospective recruits may ultimately commit to go elsewhere, and some may not fit the coach's recruiting budget so to speak.</p>
<p>So, what I am saying is that while an invited visit is most definitely a good sign, unless its a D1 recruit commitment, the situation may still be uncertain in the coach's eyes.....unless of course the coach has asserted that the applicant is number 1 or 2 on the list and you believe that.</p>
<p>As far as the wine and dine basically you're talking about certain D1 atheletes as most coaching budgets save a few, don't have that kind of money. I would say at that point if a school is going to that expense that the only thing holding them back would be NCAA admission requirements. Schools can and do waive requirements for some student atheletes. But really it's a short list of sports. </p>
<p>The NCAA is often the final say, if they make an exception, it might be based on a Learning Disability, but that is rare and the school has to prove they have plans to work around the disability to bring the student up to speed.</p>
<p>The case in question, is, I believe, a D1 recruit for a kid with perfectly respectable academic credentials. </p>
<p>The sport is neither football nor basketball.</p>
<p>Neither of my kids play team sports, I just heard about this in passing and wondered if parents of recruited athletes need to worry about a safety school.</p>
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I just heard about this in passing and wondered if parents of recruited athletes need to worry about a safety school.
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<p>Yes.</p>
<p>It is never over until it is over. Yes, the student may have respectable academics (within the 25th to 75th percentile of accepted applicants), but until you get the admission letter and the NLI and the complete scholarship details (many D1 athletes only get partials as there are usually more recruited athletes than scholarships), I wouldn't relax on the safety school. </p>
<p>Getting this done in the EA cycle is always the best, then you can leave the safety school to RD.</p>
<p>The coaches don't tend to waste time and money on official visits if they are not serious about a kid. That said, until some formal communication from admissions comes safeties should not be ignored. (Acceptance, Letter of Intent, Likely Letter, etc)</p>
<p>You may want to wade through the Official College Visit thread about 10 below this one, for lots more speculation!</p>
<p>Parents of atheletes need to also remember there is no such animal as a four year full ride. Any commitment, get that aspect in writing. Know of several atheletes who sophomore year, juinor year, lost scholarships for no other reason than being 2 team. Make sure the school commits on paper to four years and know under what conditions can they reneg.</p>
<p>It's like any other scholarship "renewable". Never assume.</p>
<p>riverrunner is right. Check out the other thread. I have a different view for the OP. If your child has similar academics to non-recruits and is asked on an official than you are reasonably sure that the coach wants you unless he has three goalies and one spot. If child's academics is not on par than you showed heed goaliedad's advice to not let up on the safeties. In fact, work them harder.</p>
<p>I would offer a slightly different perspective, based on D's experience. Ratio of admits:visitors was roughly 1:3 or 1:4. Some self-selection here - some recruits prioritized another school first - and there's definitely an evaluation of "fit" that's part of the process that would have weeded out other candidates.</p>
<p>D1, Ivy, non-revenue sport.</p>
<p>Should a recruited athlete worry about a safety school?</p>
<p>IMO there needs to be a fall back position. Whether it's a PG year, a gap year, or a different school/safety school -- up to the student. </p>
<p>My son only did the one application -- and never had an application ready for the safety school. The coach and college guidance person at his prep school was very positive that he'd be admitted to the school he'd committed to -- and the back up was my H's alma mater where the coach was ready to recruit our son if his dream school didn't pan out. I do not recommend this. I do know of at least two kids that did a PG year when their recruiting didn't pan out.</p>
<p>It was very scary until the ED letter arrived. I took some shallow breaths with the pre-read, and then again with the likely letter. But didn't really believe it until after the actual hard copy showed up in the mail. Of course, I still don't quite believe it when I drive into the school entrance. And he's a sophomore!</p>
<p>Do the recruits go to parties on Friday night? What advice do I give my child? I know that they shouldn't be drinking because they are underage but I am worried that there will be pressure to join the fun. Any advice from folks who have had a child go? The visit is in 2 days!</p>
<p>As parents we spend 18 years instilling proper values in our children. When they go off to college or even these visits, parents should learn to let go and trust their kids that they will do the right thing. The best advice to give your child it to enjoy yourself for college are four of the best years of your life. Don't worry, you should be proud.</p>
<p>CNP -- we had the same experience. </p>
<p>And I think Kate Lewis knows of what she speaks. </p>
<p>Some (especially non athlete-recruit) parents believe that students offered "wine and dine" (this generally means cafeteria or fast food at best and crashing on the floor of a team member's room for anyone other than Big 10 football or bball players) visits automatically result in an admissions coup. Just not true. </p>
<p>The challenge of taking the appropriate AP classes and keeping a high GPA while dedicating 3-5 hours every day, at the minimum six days a week and almost every week of the year, is not the picnic some non-athlete parents suspect. The "athlete" many have in mind is an outdated concept, or the province of someone's football team not generally represented on this forum. </p>
<p>I have the same envy of French Horn players as others do of athletes. If it's the year someone needs to fill that 1st chair spot, then I wish my kid had better breath instead of twelve years of classical piano...</p>
<p>I guarantee you that the recruits will be exposed to massive quantities of alcohol, whatever the sport. There will be parties, drinking, and likely the opportunity to acquire fake IDs. There is one story about a Yale recruit drinking flaming shots, getting into some kind of trouble, and getting kicked off of his high school team. Even the more sedate sports take the hosting of recruits seriously- as in making sure they have a good time as viewed by a college freshman or soph. That means alcohol. I had no idea at the time my son was making his visits that it was quite that bad, but it is.</p>
<p>Yes, I guess partying with recruits is a not-so-well-kept secret these days, although a few schools have gotten into trouble when things have gotten out of hand. Colorado had some ugly things come out during one of their recent football scandals which resulted in some people getting into some trouble IIRC.</p>
<p>If your recruited athlete hasn't developed enough maturity to deal with these situations effectively, there is no better time than now to start working on it. I've talked with my D (still in high school) several times about decision making and not necessarily taking the lead of those who are making bad decisions around you. I think I'm making progress.</p>
<p>The coach who recruited our son (large school, high division I, revenue sport) made it a point to invite our entire family for the official visit, as he does for every recruit. No alcohol, no parties. My son just hung out with some of the players while we had dinner with the coaches. The rest of the time was spent together, our family and the coaches, meeting with players, academic advisors, and touring the school and athletic facilities. The coaches had game film to show how our son would fit in at the school, along with depth charts to show where he was slated to play the following year. Offered a scholarship and promised a four year ride, regardless of injury/ability to play. He accepted. Loves the school. Loves the team. We went on some unofficial visits as a family as well. Doesn't have to be a huge party scene for these kids. These coaches want your kids... you can set the rules for what you find acceptable. Of course, you have to pay for yourselves if you go as they only are allowed to pay for certain expenses.</p>
<p>Bessie- I would view your experience as unusual. Also, I would want the visit to be representative of the culture that your student will face if he attends the school. If the team parties hard during the school year, the kid should know it up front.</p>
<p>I think it would be safe to assume that your student will be participating in whatever activities/parties are normally going on on campus on Friday and Saturday nights. (Including with alcohol, if that is the campus culture). Exposing your student to typical campus life is a major goal of the visit.</p>