<p>Is this process really only for applicants who think they would be an athletic recruit, or for anyone who has played/might continue to play the sport in HS? </p>
<p>DS has played a sport for the last 5 years, and is a pretty above average player, but not a star athlete. DH says it's silly to fill out the prospective athlete form because we will look like we are expecting he will be recruited. I am of a mind that it can't hurt to indicate interest. </p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>This sport is not his hook, and grades/scores are high.</p>
<p>Prospective athlete forms are not for “recruiting” so to speak. These schools need to field teams and it is never easy to find talented athletes who can also handle the workload. So an above average athlete who is accomplished academically is an ideal candidate. Don’t be shy about making contact with the coach by filling out the form. If it is a sport like soccer, it may not mean as much since there are so many soccer players. It also depends on what the teams need in terms of talent. If you are looking at the HADES, they typically do not make exceptions for athletes who can not do the work. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Some people think the Prospective Athlete Form is reserved only for standouts but I think above average athletes should use them to indicate interest as well. It shows a sincere desire/ willingness on the applicant’s part to contribute, develop and grow. If you’ve already interviewed and missed the opportunity to meet with the coach, the application gives you another chance to express interest and talk about a particular sport more. If you haven’t interviewed yet, I would definitely fill it out. </p>
<p>Expressing sincere interest (about sports or anything) has never hurt an application as far as I know :). I get where your son is coming from though- many boys are modest and very low key. ( Many people happen to like those qualities- a lot!)</p>
<p>I think any SS coach would be very happy to have your son on their team.</p>
<p>He’s already had his interview, but we are local (he’s a day student applicant). Worth filling it out at this point, or would it not to amount to anything if interview day has passed?</p>
<p>He does mention his experience in his ECs on his app.</p>
<p>If you are an above-average player who plans to play in school, then you should definitely inform the school of your abilities. The “prospective athlete” is a good starting point for introducing yourself to the the coach. Normally the coach will contact you after they get your info to follow-up, and ask further questions. No coach will decide based on this level of info that a kid is not “team material”, they do not have enough data. Playing a sport well is always a positive thing (never negative).</p>
<p>Don’t worry about being confused with recruited athletes. The recruited athletes are sending in game videos, having their club coaches contact the school coach to sell themselves further etc.</p>
<p>@booklady- This is just my opinion, but I would stick to the application at this point and not fill out the PAF. Make sure the school knows ( on the application) that he’s played for 5 years and wants to continue to play. I don’t know his sport, but you can also include level, club or school team, coach info ( and awards, medals, team wins )- whatever he feels comfortable mentioning. But honestly - his experience and desire to continue to play is the most important thing.</p>
<p>Thanks PhotographerMom. All of those things are on his app already, which is all done and submitted, so we are good there. Any reason why you think we should not pursue the PAF? Can you elaborate?</p>
<p>@booklady- It feels like it’s after the fact since you’ve already interviewed and submitted the application. I don’t think you have anything to worry about nor do I believe not meeting the coach (while you were there) was a missed opportunity. People miss the whole PAF thing all the time and it’s fine- not a deal breaker! I have every confidence the admission team will note his athletic experience and desire to play. Again, just my opinion- but I think you’re good to go.</p>
<p>I would submit the form. It can’t hurt, and might help. </p>
<p>At the very worst, your kid’s name might be forwarded to the teacher who coaches his sport.</p>
<p>Remember, schools have to field teams of players. One year, a school might need more baseball players, the next year, gosh, the whole lacrosse team graduated. The need for athletes is constant, but unpredictable. (Well, ok, they know when the students will graduate. But from the outside, we parents don’t know when a school needs swimmers for next year.)</p>
<p>A relative has a son at a boarding school. Chatting with a coach from another school–to which school he had been waitlisted–she gained the strong impression that coach would have been very interested in her son, had they contacted him at the time of application. She did not know at the time that her son was a good player in the boarding school pool. Don’t assume that being a “better than average player” with significant club sport experience would not make a difference–particularly with a kid with high grades and test scores.</p>
<p>I definitely don’t think it’s too late. When my kid was applying to a school that had his sport (no athletic recruit form, but good program), he wasn’t able to meet up with the coach during his interview, but the coach spotted him through a window and that along with a few email exchanges were enough to get a letter in his file–after his app. had been submitted. On the other hand, he painstakingly filled out the Andover athletic recruit form and never got any indication that they had looked at it. </p>
<p>My kid just went through the college recruiting process, and it was all about email contacts. I don’t think he ever filled out an athletic recruiting questionnaire unless the coach specifically asked him to (one or two did), and it didn’t seem to matter at all. So…I think your son emailing the coach, expressing interest in the team, asking questions, sharing stats would probably be a more effective way to show his interest in playing and–who knows?–get a bit of a boost in the admit. process.</p>
<p>We’re kind of clueless on the same point, but I did ask my son to fill out prospective athlete forms for any schools that had them. We did not contact coaches, but at least one school made sure our son met the coach of his primary sport. I haven’t reached out to coaches otherwise.</p>
<p>We did contact coaches directly. Some never responded, but … came to the interview and talked to us after. I have filled out the form and it does go to the athletic directory of the schools. So as classicalmama suggested at this point just e-mail coaches directly and see what happens. The addresses are on the web-site, sometimes you need to dig for them, but they are there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Never mind, we just did the form. Seemed like the best way to go. It looks like it is delivered as an email anyway, to the coach, and there was a spot to say, “hey, just reaching out to let you know I’m interested in playing next year.” (Not in so many words). Seems pretty casual so we figured can’t hurt/might help. </p>
<p>Again, it’s not his admissions hook. He just wants to continue to play.</p>
<p>I think an email after the application is submitted is redundant, but if it make you feel like no stone was left unturned, do it. My feeling is that the words in the inquiry should come naturally and from your son.</p>
<p>I asked my kids about this last night (both athletes). K1 said to leave it and agreed with me, but K2 (who was highly sought after by coaches during his SS admission process) said, Go for it. Even though the interview/ application is complete, it’s still before the deadline. This from a star athlete who acts like he’s in the Witness Protection Program. Go figure.</p>
<p>Just my two cents, but there you have it. I think K2 has a great point that it’s fine as long as the inquiry is made before the deadline. All the best and Good Luck.</p>
<p>booklady123- the pool of athletes at the top boarding schools is very limited. You are only applying to one school as a day student and you are close by so your son could meet with the coach easily. I think there is no harm in completing the form and sending an email directly to the coach. The schools require some physical activity each trimester so your son should also look at the other options and express interest in participating in a new sport. I wouldn’t worry about the timing of the submission- you are not expected to be an expert at applying to boarding school. For a kid who likes sports, the beauty of boarding school is they will most likely be able to play at the varsity level before they graduate.</p>