<p>S has been invited to a few junior days in the spring. As we plan ahead for the next year, we would like to find out the value/purpose of junior day activities. S has visited his top schools unofficially so he has some idea of the environment and coaches. He is likely to be invited to the same schools' OVs as well. We don't really think he has time to do all 5 OVs in the fall of his senior year so we are trying to see how junior days might be used to supplement or replace OVs.</p>
<p>OVs can’t be replaced by Jr days.
OVs are a time for the recruit to be looked at by the team as much as for the recruit to look at team/school…passing on an OV means you have passed that school by…</p>
<p>The one thing Jr days can do is eliminate schools/keep schools on “the list” your student has…
so that when the OV invites come, your student knows better which schools are top choices and which aren’t.
That way there won’t be the need for 5…</p>
<p>sooner skip the junior day but with a nice email explanation why you can’t make it. ov’s are pretty critical.</p>
<p>Guess I’m confused. The jr days are “invite only” unofficials. If there’s no major cost involved, and the school is remotely on your list, definitely go. In our experience, coaches make offers to athletes they KNOW are interested in their school. Number one way to show YOUR interest is to attend these events. Again, if it’s a small $ investment, the long term result can be amazing.</p>
<p>swimming2014</p>
<p>My son did a couple junior days. The value and purpose is to expose you to ALL facets of the schools. One school in particular absolutely blew my son away, as we learned we really didn’t know that much about it. For us, it was learning about there academic programs from each of the Deans, culture, and learning more about the baseball team and how they do things. My son absolutley loved the academics and athletics but learned the (military) culture was not for him. It was very much worth our time to do this junior day. </p>
<p>As fogfog stated, it is a way to keep a school on the list or cross them off the list when senior year rolls around and it is time for OVs. As we learned with our oldest son, there isn’t much time for a high school senior to do OVs. Also, I think some sports put more emphasis on junior days and un-OVs…my son’s sport is one of them. Most of the players we know committed before it was time to do any OVs. </p>
<p>We learned the most about schools through junior days and scheduled un-OV’s in the summer before senior year. One on one time with the coach, and requested one on ones with College Deans were the most informative and beneficial. However, keep in mind that school is not in session, so you don’t get the full student experience in the summer. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree that junior days are not a substitute for OVs; but can be used to winnow down the number of schools.</p>
<p>But, all junior days are not created equally. Some are cattle calls with dozens of potential recruits and their families taking gigantic tours with limited one on one contact with the coaches (beyond a group meet and greet) and team. Others are more personal.</p>
<p>Junior days can be good practice for later visits to other campuses where pre-arranged coaches meetings can take place.</p>
<p>IMO, if the junior days fit into your schedule and are close by, go.</p>