Thank you OP for this post and thanks to all for your responses. We known several boys in certain sports who have already repeated a year or TWO in school. Most are already 18 when applying, but a couple are younger. An AO has already told my kid to “fuggetaboutit” because he has his impact player from our school — let me just say this, I find it interesting that an impact player is already driving in the 8th grade. It’s like that scene from Fast Times At Ridgemont High when the young student in the parking lot see’s the football star drive up one morning for school “Wow - I thought they only flew him in for games”.
Thanks everyone for their comments. It is not that I was complaining (well maybe venting) but I really believe it is wrong. Our school stressed it is academics first and EC’s second (sports included) but they seem to be taking all the sports stuff too competitively. I know most of my friends (and we are in the sports group) really dont care much if we win or lose but play to have fun, I wish the school understood this. I friend of mine at Andover (male) says the same thing happens there and most of the teams are populated by just the day local kids. I wonder when the admins will figure out they are alienating their own students and change things.
I agree…I kinda wish the schools competed only on a “you get what you get, and develop what you get” philosophy.
We were at one school where another mom on my tour was “so thrilled” that the basketball coach was recruiting her (junior-to-be; though wouldn’t be surprised if he actually entered as a sophomore) son… he had scouted this kid at local games. She told me he was not a very good student and she hoped he can do the work, but the coach is pressuring him to come (with a scholarship)!
At this same school, the swim coach talked about how he was scouting swimmers from a club team about an hour away (he spent most of the lunch talking about this rather than showing interest in my son, who was more than academically qualified for this school). My son did not get in, but apparently these athletic recruits did.
Makes me feel better about one of the schools we visited which just so happens to be my current favorite. A PG family was talking to the football coach about all of their student’s achievements and asking how many PGs they recruit/accept. The coach kept trying to steer the conversation to what else does the kid do, how are his grades etc, but the parents only wanted to talk football. The coach finally came out and said being a good football player wouldn’t get him in. They were looking for well rounded students that were scholars first and athletes second.