Ski racing in college

Parents Forum
1

<p>A friend's son (HS senior) is a nationally ranked ski racer who wishes to race for a college team.</p>

<p>He's talking with Colby, Middlebury, Williams, Dartmouth and others.</p>

<p>He's got decent scores and grades and would probably be accepted at some of these schools without a coach bump, but is not a truly spectacular student.</p>

<p>Any racer parents out there who have kids who love/hate their team/coach? Programs he should be looking at besides those mentioned?
Also how much real pull does a DIII ski coach have at the DIII's mentioned?
I know how DI (Dartmouth) probably works, but not so clear on the timeline and competitiveness for these athletes.
Any experience with ski coaches at DIII's promising admission and things not working out?
Or the opposite: promise of admission and everything went as promised.
Should he be planning to apply EA/ED where possible to lock in a spot, or hang in longer, do RD and compare?<br>
In other words, is it risky for a skier to hang out into the RD round?</p>

<p>Money not an object, so comparing finaid not part of the decision process.</p>

<p>Thanks to any of you out there who've been through this particular scenario lately!</p>

<p>PM if too identity-revealing to share on public boards.</p>

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<p>Although Middlebury, Colby, and Williams are Division III schools, they compete nationally in Division I. I know of no other major NCAA sport where Division I and III schools compete together in the same national championship. Middlebury came in 5th last year, beating the likes of UVM, UNH, and UNM.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.middlebury.edu/NR/rdonlyres/361AA096-91BD-4A8F-845F-4584F699F0D3/0/08ncaaresults.pdf?%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.middlebury.edu/NR/rdonlyres/361AA096-91BD-4A8F-845F-4584F699F0D3/0/08ncaaresults.pdf?&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>So you'll find that recruiting for Middlebury's ski team is intense, and most kids on the team are world class skiers (many on development teams). So there's very little difference in talent between kids skiing at Dartmouth and those skiing at Middlebury.</p>

3

<p>SoozieVT, who is a CC Counselor and long time poster has a D who was/is a ski racer (she may have graduated by now) try PM'ing her if she doesnt see this thread.</p>

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<p>ahhhh, thanks cathymee. I'll PM SoozieVT.</p>

<p>^^^arcadia, thanks for spelling this out. I'm not sure the mom knows that skiing is D1 at these schools. That changes everything....</p>