<p>Although there are some clear (less desirable) safeties, S's research is resulting in a list comprised primarily of academic reaches:soccer fit or academic fits:soccer reach. I know there are many factors that come into play, but in general, which type of reach has more success? Not talking ivies.
And then admissions aside, fear he'd struggle in classroom where he have success on the field or sit the bench where he'd do well academically. (S is an A- student & A player.)</p>
<p>NJ (we actually are from NJ): DD had this exact conversation with her Field hockey coach just the other day. Here’s the questions & answers he provided to DD:
- What is your GPA & test scores? DD’s GPA is 3.6 at a challenging private school & will take the ACT for the 1 st time in October as a junior.
- What donyoubwabt to study? DD prefers the Math/science venue than writing.
- What do you want to study? If engineering/nursing/ chem, playing collegiate spots will be very difficult due to the time commitments of those majors.
- Field Hockey skills- these are your strong points, these are areas you need to improve to compete at the D1 level & for the strong D3 academic programs. If you improve this much I can help you to work with these following coaches through the admissions process & he provided DD with a list.</p>
<p>Was that exactly what she wanted to hear- no but it was honest. She knows what she needs to do & if successful where the outcome can be. Can ask for more than that.</p>
<p>Getting a coach to support you if you are an athletic reach is very unlikely. If you are an academic reach it will depend on the program and how far of a reach you are.</p>
<p>So let me come right out and ask. Does anyone know of any lower tier D1/upper tier D3 schools with strong soccer programs where an A- student with I’d predict SATs in the 1800-1900 range wouldn’t struggle academically? S doesn’t want to go too far from NJ (3-4 hrs tops). Undecided major, but more of a math&science kid. No strong opinion on urban vs rural but wants lots of school spirit.</p>
<p>To be honest, I think you really need to get some actual ACT or SAT scores in hand to work with. There is a lot of unpredictability there and you really would have nothing to show a coach without those hard numbers. GL</p>
<p>I don’t live in your area, but if that were my kid, I think I’d be looking at state flagships. In our area for example. our state U. is a good school academically but doesn’t have kid 1’s sport; however, the neighboring state, with which we mercifully have tuition and admission reciprocity, has a top program and is a great school. No athletic aid, but there are lots of scholarships available and the tuition is about what he’d pay with a good athletic or needs based scholarship to a private. My son has OV’s lined up at his top choices this fall, but this school continues to be his back-up–and one he feels good about.</p>
<p>Good advice about state schools, thanks. The only state schools he’s considered are soccer reaches to be quite honest. Regarding no sat scores yet, I am surprised that d3s recruit without this info. S feels he needs to respond to all interests but some he knows he’d never get in w/ out soccer hook (think top lacs) & doesn’t wantt to a be a dumb jock (relatively speaking) if he were to get a tip. He wants a good balance with success on both fronts.</p>
<p>Coaches recruit in the early stages without SAT scores exactly because they get a foot in the door with kids early (good relationships in recruiting are everything) with no harm done of the scores don’t pan out. Their efforts are not wasted because they can reach out to thousands of kids, perhaps get their attention early, and then if the numbers don’t work, they don’t work, no harm done. Kind of the same from your end, no harm done if some schools end up being either out of reach or your scores are even better than you thought and your target shifts higher, but you are probably putting more effort into it, that’s all. Without scores, for many schools you just don’t know what you are looking at. The scores really help … I think even more than GPA, to see what academic ballpark you are in.</p>
<p>How important is it to him to compete in varsity athletics? He sounds a lot like my nephew, who ended up playing on a very competitive college club team at his excellent state school, which was one of those academic fit, athletic reach schools you describe. He could definitely have been recruited by a smaller D3 school but that academic/social fit wasn’t there. Anyway, it has been a great fit for him–he’s loved being able to continue to compete against other schools without the pressure of D1 athletics.</p>
<p>Very important, probably too important… A lifelong dream. (He would go to indiana before Harvard for soccer.) At the same time, he does care a lot about school but soccer is his true passion. He would take a tip to play d3 before playing club…we were just hoping there were a lot of options in between. We’ll see how this season goes and reassess once he takes the psat. Getting a lay of the land has been exhausting!</p>