My daughter plays HS lacrosse-- it is very competitive here (South Jersey) and she would like to play in college. We have no delusion about some giant scholarship or something-- honestly she just wants to play and go to a nice school with her desired major that we can afford. If she gets a little bit of $$ for LAX that is a bonus. She is a junior right now.
So she started looking and has gotten in contact with several coaches. Her top school is Grand Valley (D2) in Michigan. It has a great merit scholarship program which we expect she will be able to achieve (still doing SAT and ACT thing as she is a junior but her GPA is well within range for decent merit). The coach has told her there are still a few spots for her year on the LAX team and would she come to a 5 vs 5 tournament in February so they can see her play, she can take a campus tour and then speak with the coach about the program.
The school is an awesome fit for her, and even has a direct flight from our home airport-- my step daughter has an all day travel thing with her school, which is fine as it is a great school for her too-- but a 2 hour direct flight is pretty sweet.
Now, the coach isn’t allowed to have her do official (paid) visit until senior year so this would be unofficial. It would be nice to wait so we wouldn’t have to pay but it seems that some offers are already being made to juniors so it may be time to get on the bus-- or she may not have the chance.
Would you take the trip if you were me? There are only so many LAX programs out there and it whittles down to less when we are talking schools we can afford and schools where her play level may be a match-- she isn’t a D1 big name school player but would hold her own I think in a school like this.
I love how grounded you are in your goals/vision for your D. If you truly believe this is a good fit school for her, I also encourage you to get her on campus. Even if your D visits and senses that this school is NOT a good fit for her, you will have time to switch gears and figure out Plan B.
A second “official” visit would still be a good idea. I think the second campus visit can be more relaxed, and there can be more thoughtful reflection between visits. Maybe more in-depth and relevant questions can be asked on the second trip.
I agree, if you can afford to have her make the trip it seems like a great way for her to see the school, meet the coach etc. This schools sounds like a particularly good fit for her. If the trip is un-affordable, I would let the coach know that finances are the only reason that she cannot attend.
I’d do it if you can afford it. If you can’t, I’m sure there will be opportunities still open in the fall of her senior year. My daughter plays D2 lacrosse and most of the schools in her league still have spots, and money, available even now after early signing. Most D2 schools are private, so there is a combination of merit and athletic money that makes the schools affordable. Seeing a Michigan school in February also gives a good view of what it is really like. It’s very hard for the school to hide 5 feet of snow and temps in the single digits to impress recruits.
We have found D2 to be the perfect combination of academics and competition. The teams are usually a little smaller so the girls get more playing time, there is less travel (at least for my daughter who plays in florida so most games are home games).
Bjkmom, she said it has to be an unofficial trip (not paid for by the school) because she is a junior. It sounds like a clinic or small tournament and OP’s daughter will be a registered participant.
@twoinanddone – thank you, very good helpful insight. Her fallbacks are more local schools-- where at least I can drive there, and they are smaller; we both prefer slightly larger, so I do think our want to take trips will be somewhat limited. She is writing to a few lower tier D1 schools as well, but those are probably a stretch.
@powercropper – we are a realistic family LOL-- and I try to be realistic with the kids without discouraging them and so far it is working for us and them.
If you look at classic residential schools in the area like Muhlenberg or Lafayette, they have around 5 - 10% in this category, so that would represent upperclassmen living off campus, not commuters.
The other thing I want to point out is that the 4 year graduation rate is well below average at 33%. That is very low.
'The other thing I want to point out is that the 4 year graduation rate is well below average at 33%. "
That should be a VERY big RED FLAG !
That’s more like the graduation rate of a community college!!
No wonder the coach wants your DD to visit[ on your dime].
I’d do a very big deep dive into the financial health of this college before stepping on a plane.
And I’d find other colleges that have much higher graduation rates.
Thanks all - there were quite a few D3 looking at her, but dang they are teeny tiny colleges (like 1000 students)-- her high school is bigger than that (600 in her CLASS), and the price tags holy crow!
If you need merit or athletic money, definitely take a look at some larger schools. I’d be concerned about the availability of scholarships and even accreditation in a school that size and with such a poor graduation rate.
Since you don’t have SAT or ACT scores my advice is to visit area schools across a range of selectively. Maybe Lehigh, Lafayette, TCNJ, Rutgers NB, Muhlenberg, Rowan, Susquehanna, Temple, Gettsyburg and U of Scranton.
See what appeals to her. Lehigh, Lafayette and Muhlenberg are doable in one day if you start early.
Also, depending on your income, the very expensive private schools could be about the same or less than instate tuition.