I was wondering how much of a hook it is to be a recruited athlete or even a walk-on athlete in admissions for top D1 schools and Ivies. I play tennis and I just want to get an understanding on what the admission process is like as a hopeful recruited athlete. I understand that there is no scholarships for Ivies, and I would probably not start on a team for a top school (as much as I want to) but would reaching out to coaches about being a walk-on or candidate for the team give me a leg up in admissions? Please let me know, thank you so much!
There is no admissions hook for a walk on except that having played tennis on a team or on a ranked ladder is a very nice EC. Those who are recruited MIGHT get support from the coach and that support might be very very helpful or just a feather on the scale. So much depends on the school and how good the tennis team is.
If you are female, the sport is a headcount sport so either you’ll be one of the recruited athletes or you won’t and if you aren’t you will not get a scholarship. Men can get partial scholarships.
Understood, thank you for the insight!
@tplay03: A big question is what year are you in HS currently? If you’re a Junior, it’s very late in the game to be just starting to reach out to coaches IMO…
No, I am a freshman!
Reclass
Does that mean you are repeating Freshman year (9th grade)?
Ya, by choice I go to a different school and I was a year younger
Okay, you are a sophomore, female, and not ranked on a national level in tennis. It’s unlikely you will receive a slot on a D1 team, and therefore it will not be a tip to help you with admissions. Some schools may take a walk on, but not many do.
Women’s tennis team scholarships and spots on the team are very limited.
You may consider yourself a freshman but if you are repeating a grade you may not get an extra year of eligibility in high school sports. If you are now in a private school system sports system, like a boarding school, maybe.
Yes, I am in a boarding school, and I am ranked nationally but low
Then your coaches are going to know a lot more than any of us.