<p>Another thread discusses possible 'hooks' to help in the admission process. I have a related question, and would love any feedback...</p>
<p>I understand that for the very selective schools, only recruited athletes are considered to have a hook. But what about small, moderately selctive LAC's? If an applicant is an athlete who could definately add to a college team, couldn't that be somewhat of a hook? I ask this because my S is a swimmer and we have researched schools where he would fit in academically, but also would be a competitive member of the swim team. We are hoping that it might help gain admission to a school that otherwise might be less than impressed with the rest of his application.</p>
<p>"We are hoping that it might help gain admission to a school that otherwise might be less than impressed with the rest of his application. "
That is why your DS needs to contact the coaches . They are the ones who have the ability to get an otherwise unimpressive student in the door, but only if they want your DS on their team. Someone who is an unimpressive student, good swimmer, but is not recruited, has little chance of impressing an admissions committee, especially if the swim coach already has recruited other swimmers that he really wants on his team.</p>
<p>It’s worth it to find out. My son, currently not even playing baseball and not a great player last year (though a former MVP on his freshman team) was contacted by a tech school looking for kids with strong scores who played certain sports. It seems the combination might be a small “hook”? But, my son isn’t a recruited athlete though he did fill out the athletic supplement on the Common App.</p>
<p>Everything you said makes sense to me. He did fill out the Recruit Me forms for some schools. I guess I was overly hopeful. In my dream scenario, the admission counselor would look at his app, find it fairly decent, but then noticing he’s a swimmer would say “Well, we do need swimmers,” moving him from the maybe pile to the YES! pile. </p>
<p>Several of the schools he’s interested in have very small teams, most likely due to their small student population. I’ve looked at recent meet times for the teams’ current swimmers, and he would be competitive…not the fastest on the team, but certainly not the slowest. Unfortunately, with swimming, if you’re not a superstar, you have no chance of being recruited. Plus, it’s not a money-making sport for the school either.</p>
<p>sbjdorlo- I didn’t even know that an athletic supplement EXISTS!</p>
<p>My S wrote about swimming in the EC section. I can’t believe my S missed this! (actually, I can…) I don’t know if I should let him know. He’s a little stressed by this whole application process. How come we didn’t know about this supplement? DUH!</p>
<p>It’s right there above the arts supplement. It only took a few minutes to fill it out. Basically, it asks about the level of experience, coach’s name, and any awards-not much more than that. Definitely have your son check it out. It seemed kind of silly given that my son is no great athlete currently but I thought, what the heck? For the little LACs, you never know.</p>
<p>Admissions is not going to care about your son’s athletics, it is just another EC to them. The coach holds the key to whether or not swimming is a hook. Your son should email the coaches at every school he has applied to with his times, grades and test scores. Also, it is not true that only the superstar swimmers get recruited. It is a much easier process for the superstars, but good swimmers get recruited all the time. It is a lot of work and a very time consuming process that usually starts well before applications are submitted. But it is not too late if your son is willing to spend the time needed to gain a coach’s support.</p>
<p>Thanks fishymom, for your input. I’ll let him know that he needs to contact the coaches asap. Can I ask you what exactly you mean by “a coach’s support?” Do you mean that he can put in a good word with the admission committee? Sorry if I sound clueless, but I guess I am. Thanks again!</p>
<p>S1 was recruited for a small, well respected LAC D3 college. Coaches were very above board about the fact that players needed to be able to be admitted based on the strength of the application alone. My son brought copies of his transcripts, SAT scores, and a resume with him when he met the coach. Those were the first things the coach looked at. My son was offered admission to the college, with a very good merit scholarship, but turned it down to attend our state flagship. He is playing his sport with the university’s club team, and very happy.</p>
<p>S2 was interested in athletics at the college level as well, but was only interested in applying to universities that happened to have D1 programs in his sport. He could have run at many D3 and D2 colleges in the country, but his speed was a few seconds under the cut-off for the D1 universities he applied to. He has been running with his university’s club team, and knows what times he needs to hit to “walk on” the team. </p>
<p>The most valuable thing a coach ever said to S1 was: “When you visit this college, pretend that you are unable to play your sport ever again. Would you want to be here if you couldn’t play?” Wise words. The school was too small for S1.</p>
<p>S2 contacted coaches at the D3 schools he was interested in, had a letter of recommendation from his Premier Team coach, and attended clinics at two of his top choices. All LACs were academic matches. He knew he would need merit aid, so did not look at many academic reaches.</p>
<p>We considered his sport to be his hook. Perhaps it was, but he only played varsity freshman year; did not get much playing time. He chose to stop playing varsity level for the sport that had been a major part of his identity. Sophomore year, he happily played on a club team. It’s a darned good thing that he likes the college he chose, regardless of athletic status. </p>
<p>Geographic distance can also be a sort of hook, if a student is willing to travel a bit.</p>
<p>eastcoast, thank you for sharing your experiences. </p>
<p>I agree that it’s important to love the school (with or without the sport.) I guess I was just hoping it (his being a swimmer) might tip the scales in his favor at some of the smaller LAC’s with smaller teams. His SAT/ACT scores are on par for these schools: his grades are toward the lower end (but MUCH improved senior year.) Obviously, fit is most important, and I want to see him at a school that challenges him, but where he is not “in over his head.”</p>
<p>Since a number of these schools (many of them CTCL picks) are a distance away, we are not able to visit them unless (until!) he’s accepted. Coupled with the financial aid issue, his feel for the school will be paramount.</p>
<p>Swimming CAN be a hook, but the coach has to actually act as the hook. Even the small LAC recruit. Have your son get in contact with the coach. Remember the D3 schools do not have the money to seek out far away athletes like the D1 programs. It is perfectly acceptable to call the coach. He will most likely be THRILLED to hear from your son.</p>
<p>And yes-fit is important regardless of athletics. We visited many schools where my son liked the coaches but did not like the school. Those schools were crossed off the list.</p>
<p>Definitely email coaches, better yet call. Swimming recruiting must be easier than other sports (since it is based on times). Even if they cannot help with admissions, your son should be talking to coaches if he is planning on swimming in college.</p>
<p>DD applied to half a dozen schools and was an athlete in a sport that is mostly club not varsity. She met coaches at each school and several said they had some small pull at admissions, not a full on hook, but enough to perhaps get your app a second look. Anything to separate your DS’s file from the mass is good.</p>
<p>I really appreciate everyone’s suggestions. My S will definately reach out to the college swim coaches. He has been really focusing more on gets his apps finished, but I have let him know that a coach may possibly put in a good word for him with admissions.</p>
<p>My D2012 expects to swim D3 in college. She is down to 2, maybe 3 colleges (has to finish the 3rd supplement). She filled out the athletic supplement and sent it to all 3. She has met the coach of school 1 because her brother swam on the team under the same coach. This coach has known of her since she was 13. Came to watch the finals of her state meet last month. We toured school 2 and met the asst coach; she and the coach have been calling or writing every 2-4 weeks. DD would be an asset to either team–at Dec invitationals she would have finished in top 8 of many events. Could swim D2, but doesn’t want to swim for money or work that hard. She looks at college as the educational opportunity, with swimming as an extra. Is this a hook? Maybe, but she can get into both on her stats and ecs alone. Her EC essay was about being a good swimmer, but training with nationally ranked teammates.</p>
<p>Does your son swim club in the off-season? Those stats are available to any coach. Plus if he is already swimming distance + 200 strokes, he has a leg up on swimmers who only do HS. Good to mention that to a prospective coach in an email or phone call.</p>
<p>I agree that your son needs to reach out to the college coaches. First, if they like what they see, they may be able to assist in gaining admission for him to that school. Second, not every coach is familiar with the wide variety of talent out there. My son is a HS sophomore who runs track and cross country. He is putting together a list of schools he wants to visit. If he likes those schools or even some of them, he plans to contact the coaches to let them know his interest level, along with his grades and other activities. That way, they may start to follow what he is doing.</p>
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