I have been invited to WashU and Amherst for OV’s in September. Both coaches have been very enthusiastic about the process. I have talked over the phone, in person, and emailed both of the coaches. Pre-reads were positive at both schools. At Amherst I’m one of the top recruits, if not #1. Lots of phone calls, handwritten letter, lots of enthusiasm, and the coach telling me helped me figure this out. At WashU I’m more unsure of where I stand as a recruit. What should I be prepared for on these visits? What questions should I ask and be prepared to answer? Thanks for the advice!
Others with more experience will chime in, but from all my reading, you can ask the Wash U coach directly where you stand in his/her recruiting list.
If you have been offered an OV you are high on the “list” at both schools. You can ask the coach directly if they are going to support your application. With full coach support you have a very good chance of admission, but not guaranteed.
I would also suggest you keep conversations open with other coaches, especially with some larger schools, schools closer to home, universities not LAC. You might visit both places and realize that the environment s not right for you, too far from home, hate the weather, decide you want to study something those schools don’t offer, want a less expensive alternative etc. It’s good to keep your options open at this point.
Good luck.
Wouldn’t you wait until after the OV to ask if the coach is supporting your application? I thought some coaches waited until after the OV to make an offer (ie support the application). It makes sense if they want to see what the applicant is like, how they mesh with the team etc.
Preparing for the questions from the coach is important, but preparing for the social aspects of the visit is important too. Do you want to go to a party? Are you going to drink?
My daughter was 16 when she went on her first solo visit and it was a little harsh for her. She was asked a lot of personal questions, including if she was gay. Her host was a friend from her club sports team, and that helped but it was still very scary being thrust into college. The schedule over the 2 days is also hard to keep up with as you’ll get very little sleep (maybe on the floor), you’ll eat on your host’s schedule, you’ll have meetings with the coach or the team, there will be a lot of walking.
But have fun!
@cinnamon1212 It can happen before or after the OV. Depends on the coach and program. Sometimes where the recruit is on the coach’s list affects the timing also.
I would approach the OV as the “buyer.” Be yourself and assess whether the school is where you want to be for the next four years. Ask yourself whether you think you would like your teammates and coach. Think about which school offers the better academic program for you.
You should be prepared to meet with the coach at some point (often at the end) of the OV. In all likelihood, the coach will be selling the school, so listen closely to the pitch. What you must confirm during this meeting is exactly what the coach can and will do for you admissions wise. Do not settle for soft responses. Will the coach support you with admissions. What exactly does that mean (i.e., historically, how many supported athletes in your position have been accepted, how many deferred, how many rejected). Where are you on the list of recruits (here, you are trying to ensure that you will not be pushed off the podium if a better recruit comes along). How does the coach anticipate that you will contribute to the team (guaranteed roster spot or are tryouts required). The questions should be specific, as should the answers.
The OVs are a time for you to gather information. I suspect by the end, you will see a clear direction on your college choice.