Strong student, non-starting Varsity athlete, wanting to play sports at highly selective college

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello-- If my son is very strong, academically, does he have to be a "starter" on his high school varsity sports team to be recruited to a very selective college team? I understand that many highly selective colleges are interested in student-athletes with exceptionally high GPAs to bring up the average GPA for their collective sports teams. </p>

<p>My son just finished his sophomore year in a high school with an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and a weighted GPA of 4.4. He just scored 780/800 on his first SAT 2 subject test in the subject he wants to pursue in college. </p>

<p>He was MVP on JV sports team and was moved up to varsity high school team this summer. He is not starting on the varsity team, and it appears that he may never start for his new coach. (My son is a nice kid and easy to get along with; his coach has his favorites and seems to not be open to what my son can bring to the team.) </p>

<p>Son is a starter on his club team where his highly-regarded coach respects his skills, and he just received a very positive college recruiter report this spring, after playing in a major club tournament, stating that he is a "Solid high-level Division 2 prospect." </p>

<p>My son wants to play at a D3 LAC and does not mind sitting on the bench. Just hopes that his sport and grades open the door to a highly selective college.</p>

<p>Have you ever heard of a non-starter on high school varsity team with a high GPA being recruited to a highly selective college team?</p>

<p>Thanks-</p>

<p>Karen</p>

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<p>Depends on if the sport is being recruited out of high school teams (football) or his club sport (basketball, swimming etc). If the sport is recruited out of a club level - he probably has a much better chance. </p>

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<p>It’s a complicated question, but basically the only way he’ll be recruited is if the coach thinks he’ll help the team. As you know, there are potentially two ways he can help a team. By far the most common way to help a team is by being an exceptional athlete. The other way he could help the team is by being a “booster”, a high stat student who could potentially boost the team stats enough to allow an academically marginal superstar athlete onto the team.</p>

<p>The use of “boosters” is very uncommon, primarily because coaches have a very limited number of slots and they want to save them for the prospects who can help them on the field.</p>

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<p>Dear ahsmuoh-- Thanks very much for your input. He plays basketball. I was hoping to read what you wrote. Your input is hopeful. </p>

<p>Dear Sherpa-- appreciate your input as well. My son’s club coaches have been falling all over him, secondary to his GPA, telling him about all the possibilities for him at the Ivy league level and beyond. (He’s not interested in the ivies.) When you say that “boosters” are uncommon, are you saying at the D3 level or all levels?</p>

<p>Thanks to you both!</p>

<p>Karen </p>