I’m looking to be a D1 swimming recruit but I’m so lost. I’m a first generation college student and understand the regular process but not the recruiting. What is a pre read and how do you get one? Do you have to apply to the school after you make your commitment through early decision or something? Where do you have to stand academics wise in comparison to a schools? Any advice in general would be so helpful, thanks!!
I forgot to mention I am the high school class of 2022, college 2026
Start now by researching colleges…those you would be interested in attending, where your stats are at least in the ballpark, and those you could swim at based on your event times. Hopefully there are some that fulfill all criteria. Generally cast a wide net, and include more schools than just NCAA DI.
Fill out the recruiting questionnaire on each school’s website, there should be a swimming specific one on each team’s home page. After that email the coaches (copy all of them) to introduce yourself, say you filled out the recruiting questionnaire, and that you are interested in potentially swimming for their team.
Collegeswimming .com is a good site that can help you identify where your times fit in.
Continue building relationships and following up with coaches, and send updates as they are available. Right now recruiting is in a great state of flux, and many coaches may be focused on their class of 2021 recruits right now. So, you may not hear back right away, but keep trying.
Ultimately coaches decide which recruits receive official visits, pre-reads, and offers. Some schools will require an ED application, some won’t…that’s less common in D1 than D3.
Lastly, understand your budget…what can/will your family pay for college? Full tuition scholarships in DI swimming are uncommon, full rides even more uncommon.
Good luck.
Thank you!! Georgetown, in specific, is my goal. I reached out to the coach and he read the email but did not respond. My sister goes there but does not swim. I’m not too concerned about scholarships because we do qualify for FA. If they make you apply, is it possible to be rejected? Later this week I’ll continue to reach out to more coaches. My times are for sure outdated so I feel like I should wait until they get where I want them to be before I email.
Fill out the recruiting questionnaire as well. DI coaches have only been able to talk to Class of 2022 swimmers since June 15 (2 days ago), and again, things are crazy with recruiting right now because there is a dead period until July 31, at least. Go to the NCAA site and download a copy of the Guide for College Bound Athletes and read that.
Many coaches have not completed recruiting for class of 2021, with that said, you are not too early and it is appropriate to be filling out questionnaires and contacting coaches via email. Completing the questionnaire is good because it gets you in their databases. Again, it might be awhile before you get responses. And having updated times will help.
DI non-Ivy league athletic recruits sign a national letter of intent (NLI), it is unlikely to be rejected after signing that and applying, unless grades are really bad and/or there is some kind of disciplinary situation.
I filled out the questionnaire a long time ago, should I redo it or is it already in their system? Georgetown recruits typically get in touch with the coach and the end of their junior year and announce their verbal commitment in the early fall. Verbal commitments are not binding right? But only on my end and not theirs? Can they drop me after I accept an offer?
I would not redo the questionnaire, unless you have new times. If you have new times, I would also email them to the coaches.
Verbal commitments are not binding on either party. Yes, the coach can reneg, but I don’t think that happens all that often…they do have to think about their reputation.
However, if there is a coaching change, it is not uncommon that the new coach will clear the decks so to speak, and not honor verbal commitments made by the previous coach.
Regarding the student athlete reneging on a verbal offer, that does happen, but understand that coaches talk amongst themselves quite often, so others could find out about that. Best to consider a verbal offer as a high level of commitment.
Thank you that’s what I thought, but don’t want to end up in the position of not having a college to go to because I was mislead!