<p>I would like advice on whether it would help or hurt my son's chances for admission to the top New England boarding schools (aka "HADES") if he were to request a meeting with a coach and/or teacher in his sport/academic areas of interest (namely, soccer and latin/history). He's not a star soccer player, but is on his current school team; likewise, he is by no means sure he wants to be a scholar of the classics, but it is an interest of his.
Thank you.</p>
<p>At Deerfield and Hotchkiss, I was asked when I made the appointment if my kids would like to meet with anyone from particular departments. I don’t think it’s a normal part of the process for A, E and SPS for them to ask; but it certainly would not HURT to reach out to faculty in your son’s area of interest. Even if it is some time after the interview, you can always inquire about particular programs. </p>
<p>Call me naive, but when admissions people tell me not to hesitate to contact them if we have any questions or want to know more about a program, I tend to believe they are sincere! 
Again, I would do this after the interview, once your son knows that he likes the school as much in person as he did from the books. It might be kind of awkward to sit through an arranged meeting with a teacher after a visit that just didn’t “click”.</p>
<p>Ditto. No harm in asking. It may actually demonstrate a broader interest in the school.</p>
<p>If truly interested in the sport, by all means then ask. However, it likely will not help the applicant’s chances unless he/she is good enough to be on that coach’s ‘wish list’ for admissions. At the HADES, soccer is competitive and popular. The typical ‘travel’ player coming in as a fresh or soph will be lucky to make the JV squad. The good thing is that there are 3 to 4 boys and girls teams and thus tons of opportunity to play.</p>
<p>I think it’s helpful for your son to meet the coaches and faculty members he’s likely to spend the most time with if he is admitted and chooses that school. My daughter loved one school overall, but did not click with that school’s head coach of her main sport. It was really important information for her decision-making process, and there was no other way she would have known.</p>
<p>I have thought a lot about this topic. My D is a respectable player in her chosen sport, but not ranked high enough to be “recruitable”. Most applicants play a sport at some level - I concluded that it might be presumptuous to ask for a coaches time on your first visit. If they haven’t sought you out and encouraged you to apply to their school, then it will make no difference in your application - thats what the whole recruitment process is all about. We have factored her sport into the selection of schools, but will wait until re-visit days to ask to speak to a coach.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for thoughts on my question. I think all make good points.</p>
<p>my son did it and I think it was helpful in a few ways. First, it allowed my son get a better sense of what the school is all about. The more people you talk to the better sense you get. Second, his discussion with the coach was relaxed, largely based on their common interest in sport. Further I believe the coach likely provides feedback to the admission committee regarding his impression of the applicant, regardless of whether the applicant is an elite or recreational athlete.</p>