<p>One has to be careful in deciding on schools based on athletic recruiting when it involves D III. There is never a guarantee of playing time, so make sure you like the school for all the right reasons.</p>
<p>Coaches exert a lot of pressure on athletes to apply ED or in some cases at least ED2. My son had this problem at several NESCAC schools where he ended up on the waiting list rather than getting an athletic slot. His problem was that he applied ED to an Ivy League school for non-athletic reasons and would have preferred to attend that school. As I stated in a previous post, he was recruited by a top D III (academic) University that he now attends.</p>
<p>The advantage at this school was that they only offered EA. He was accepted in mid-December but did not have to make his final decision until May. Yes, the coaches continued to "recruit" him, but since he was already accepted there was no urgency to send a deposit in until May 1st.</p>
<p>I don't mean to hijack this thread, but my question is very related to everything posted here, so if you feel that this is off-topic or rude, feel free to ignore me! :)</p>
<p>I am a rising senior (female) who is being recruited at a very academically excellent school for DIII track. However, this is the only school i am being recruited at... the rest i am applying to just for academics. The problem is that this school, as much as I love it (and I do!) just isn't my first choice, and I plan to go ED to another school.</p>
<p>Now, assuming I don't get in ED to that other school (which I am nearly certain I won't), will I still be considered as a recruit in the RD round for the school I could run track at? I mean, I am academically qualified, but will I still have the tip factor of athletics? I know I read a few posts stressing the importance of ED, but are you really no longer considered a recruit if you don't apply ED?</p>
<p>Have you contacted the coach at your first choice school? Do you plan to "walk on" there? Your question is a little hard to answer. It depends on the school and the coach and how important you would be to the DIII school's team! It could be that the coach would still be very interested in you and you would be a "recruit" even in the RD round. However, the coach might not have the same pull with admissions for a "tip" that he/she would in the ED round. As we have said, it varies by school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, MomofWildChild. Actually, I haven't contacted the coach at my first choice school... My times are not good enough to get me recruited, and I'm not even sure I would want to try to walk on because it is DI, which really intimidates me. I have talked on the phone with the DIII coach, and he sounded pretty interested, but not desperate or anything. I suppose, then, that I'll just have to cross my fingers for the RD round... thanks for the info!</p>
<p>I may be making assumptions but are your D1 choices Ivies, and your D3 a Williams-like academic D3?</p>
<p>Because if so, I REALLY advise you to visit the schools in question. Just in case the D3 feels like a great fit. The academic differences are, well, 'academic' and at the very selective D3s, the sports recruitment can help-- a lot. </p>
<p>I wouldn't want you to throw away a great shot at a top D3 school for a dart-throw at an only-slightly-more-selective Ivy, then wind up with a dart-throw at the top D3 school in RD.</p>
<p>Yes, we should shoot for our dreams but it doesn't hurt to assess the options with a heavy dose of realism. If the D-1 is still tops, okay.</p>
<p>Don't be so afraid of the DI running. Stanford lets anyone walk on to their track team, and you get to practice with some awesome athletes. You would be surprised how much you can improve. Look at the roster of the DI team and then do a Google search and find some of the high school times in your events. You might be surprised.</p>
<p>SBmom: You read me like a book. :) Your assumption is completely correct. I'm going for a visit to the DIII school in a week and a half, and I've arranged to meet with the coach. When I visit, I'm definitely going to go in with an open mind, because if it does become my top choice, that would solve a lot of my problems. To be honest, I never even really considered going to a school that small until I realized I could run track there. My biggest fear is that I will choose to attend solely because of the track team while the school itself might not be a good fit for me. But we'll see how the visit goes ;)</p>
<p>MomofWildChild: That's a really, really good idea. I never thought of that. It would really be great if I could run there, because I love running and I would hate to give that up. And this DI school is one of the few I've looked at that doesn't have a running club (yes, that is something I check for ;)), so if I could keep running in track, that would be amazing. Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>If this particular D3 is not your cup of tea there are probably others that are. So many of them are closer in spirit to certain Ivies than the other Ivies are. For example, if you love Brown, Vassar is closer in "feel" than Cornell would be; Williams is closer to Dartmouth than Columbia would be.</p>
<p>Keep checking out those top D3s and you may find some good fits where they are falling all over themselves to get you!</p>
<p>PS Go during the school year for a better sense of "fit."</p>
<p>thanks, SBmom! I will definitely keep all of that in mind as I visit. If I like the school enough, I think that's a great idea to go back at a time when class is in session just to get a better feel. :)</p>
<p>I believe there are many people with this same experience. We have to admit this was a huge learning experience for us. We now know much more however this is our last d to go to college, so vowed we would share our experiences with her teammates and anyone else interested. It feels good to be "done" and to have a D that is so excited to leave for camp and school August 10. Hope your D is as happy with her choice.</p>
<p>Oldhat: Yes, thanks, she's extremely happy. (These things seem to come out magically for the best... she now likes the ED2 school better than the ED1 school-- and it is definitely a better fit. :))</p>
<p>While doing ED1, we did not realize that "you're at the top of my list" could mean one of 20 or more kids! Also we did not realize some coaches have relatively little pull and others (at very similar schools) have quite a bit. </p>
<p>I feel the same way abnout helping others (probably the main reason I am on CC at this point.) I have two more kids but neither is likely to be recruited (unless some college develops a skateboarding team!)</p>
<p>iqq: I do not know about D1, but as for D3 recruiting trips-- Arranged & paid for by the student; you simply plan a schedule to visit the school and let the coach know ahead of time so you can stay overnight with a team member. I do not think you are supposed to play the sport while there (at least not officially); it is just a get-acquainted thing. It is THE great advantage of being recruited-- insider access to the school. Warning: your vision of the school will be influenced by the kid you stay with so a grain of salt is required if your host is a party animal or nerd...</p>
<p>The trips can be any time. My D went on a 10 day college swing in fall of her senior year (missed high school to do it) and did back to back visits to all the schools that she wanted to see (I stayed in hotels.) </p>
<p>Be careful not to schedule visits during school holidays... There is a great book called "Visiting College Campuses" that has all the holidays noted in the back of the book. Goofy stuff-- like Columbus day can be a school holiday.</p>
<p>We had one coach who flew out to Ca twice from the midwest to see D play in big matches. Other than that, she did the visiting. Are you a rising senior?</p>
<p>I offer the same advice as SB Moom re Div.3 schools. D-1 are slightly trickier. Usually, the BIG D-1 schools have their recruiting list way before the coming school year begins. They will fly out to "major" tournaments in your sport. If you are someone they really want, you will be inundated with phone calls and offers for "official visits", which means all expenses paid. Being a D-1 recruit is a rare thing, and if you are one you probably have been contacted by now. For smaller D-1 schools, the drill is about the same as D-3, send tapes, send emails, visit the school, make yourself known to coaches at the schools of your choice.</p>
<p>Thank you -- Talking to small D1 schools -- they are more like D3 schools. I don't mind paying my way to visit them. I am not sure I will be invited to D1 "official visits" although a couple of coaches are asking me to visit.</p>
<p>iqq, in general, if you aim a little lower athletically, you can get into something a little higher academically. Think of this when you are evaluating your options. If you want feel free to pm me with specifics.</p>
<p>SBMom, and other folks who have been through this, what, if anything, does a pre-read guarantee you? Are these reads something new? Are they a common tool? Three DI schools have offered me pre-reads. They have come back positive, which I know is good, but what do they really mean? Does anyone in cc know of a case where a recruit with a postive pre-read has then been turned down by admissions? If anyone has had any experience with this, please share your stories. Thanks.</p>