This is great advice. Thank you.
We have had a similar experience with LAC’s with D3 programs, as in the coaches stating there is no input to admissions. We have been nail-biting as well, and are in the college acceptance process now. So far 3 acceptances (one after a deferral), one deferral still outstanding and waiting for any news form final school (5 total). At first I thought there could be some influence… then with the deferrals I thought there was no influence… now back to thinking there may be a little, at least once the whole pool of applicants is in. So if you are on the line (maybe not a top candidate w/o athletics) it will just depend on a lot of factors. Also, I think course rigor and GPA outweigh test scores, at least that was what we heard from several admissions talks we attended along the way.
Regarding time improvements, the coaches followed times even in the senior swim season - to date - and would text or email with congratulations for dropped times.
Anyone have experience communicating with coaches after acceptances, if still deciding?
My son swam for Midd. He went to ED route, tho, so didn’t have to go thru RD. I would emphasize that you pick the schools for academics, because swimmers get injured and coaches leave. You want to be 100% certain your DD or DS will be able to meet their academic goals. As for test scores, you have to have the minimum that the school requires if you are going “high academic”. The coach should know, and be straight with you. That’s why it’s very helpful to test early-end of Sophomore or beginning of Junior year. Then you know what you have to work with, and where your target schools can be.
My son had a 31 ACT, which was fine for Midd. Amherst wanted a 32, and told us so. Williams was fine with the ACT but also wanted above 700s on his SAT2s, which he didn’t have. SO that was a deal-breaker. Now of course if my son was posting Olympic times, or had some other “hook”, those necessary scores might have been lower, but for him, that was the deal.
He went to Midd and had a great 4 years.
@1399HdJ you must have applied EA, yes? Did your swimmer go on any OVs? Did it help with acceptances or with decision-making on your end? You give me some hope for my D19 who is a little stronger swimmer than student. She is quite versatile though, and at least one coach liked that she could fill in anywhere. Other coaches were ready to specialize her, which she does not prefer.
@Acersaccharum - our S just got in ED1 to his top choice in December. I don’t know if the OV helps as far as acceptances…I would assume that it would seeing it shows a vested interest. However, it definitely helped with decision making on our end. One clearly was fantastic from start to finish. The other 2 clearly ranked the schools 2 & 3. Even though his first OV was at the school he’ll now attend, and it was the forerunner right from the start, I’m glad we did the other 2 - you just never know…
As a HS coach, I would recommend as she talks to coaches to keep asking about where they see her fitting in…some coaches will just peg you for distance and that’s all you do - others are more open to using the versatility that some swimmers come with. We came with a list of his current times off usaswimming. All depends on the team needs and the coach. If she wants to not specialize, that’s a key question to ask a coach, and will likely help formulate her opinion of the program :). Looking at collegeswimming.com was also an invaluable resource where we could gauge the need and how he would fit in at certain schools.
Good luck - this was an exhausting, but fun process in watching our son grow 
@Acersaccharum - He applied every which way. ED, EA, and Regular. When he was deferred from top choice, he jumped on two out of state schools that we had thought about but didn’t apply. For those, he reached out to coaches what we thought was too late because it was November senior year, but they were still open to talking.
The two left on the list are former top choice ED (deferral now accepted) and the one where we haven’t heard back (sent in application EA, but didn’t complete it with teacher and counselor rec’s and transcript until 2 weeks ago!).
There is definitely hope. Here is what we learned:
If any of the schools you are considering and your D is interested in place an importance on “demonstrated interest,” visit if you can! If you can’t visit, still have phone conversations with both coaches AND with admissions. Search for schools that meet your criteria, don’t worry about the ones that reach out to you (unless they meet your criteria, then great!).
He went on one OV (with top choice ED) and loved it. The OV was in addition to two other visit to the school. If you don’t go on an OV, still meet with coaches on any school visits.
At three schools (including the 2 still on list), we visited for day-long events put on by admissions for Junior year prospective students, and met with coaches for lunch with other swimmers, or before/after the event. Very true the school needs to fit outside of swimming factor, and for us, it worked to show demonstrated interest in the school alongside swimming.
We started the process by reaching out to the coach via email (December junior year), and requesting a phone conversation. If they have recruit spot on their site, go through that AND email the coach directly. Recruit spot has a place for test scores and GPA. Coaches need to know, and may provide feedback.
Then when you decide to visit the school, email the coach again and ask to meet. He took a lot of initiative in the process, even though it became clear he’d make an immediate impact on the team freshman year.
One thing that is very hard but important - try and find a school that is moderately easier for admissions but still an academic fit, that has swimming and would be a place that your D could be happy. This will lessen the nail-biting.
Hi everyone, I just had a question regarding athletic recruiting. What does it mean when a college coach says “We’ll do everything we can to support your admissions to _______”.?
Thanks all, for the great advice. D has first attempt at ACT this weekend (hoping she likes it better than SAT) and big championship meet in a few weeks. Hope the results of both will help focus her goals. She’s only got a list of 6 schools right now, and finds it much easier to cross off than to add. How late in the game can you think about adding more schools? Will coaches still be interested in new recruits by late summer (we’re looking mostly at mid - D3, and possibly at low D1 because of an interesting major at that school)?
@Acersaccharum , I think coaches will be interested in late summer, but keep in mind that many at that point are looking to start solidifying their fall visits with recruits - especially kids that they want to commit sooner (ED1 for your D3 LAC’s for instance).
And…it truly depends on the school and program. Some will need to fill a roster through the spring of that senior recruiting year, even allow walk ons in the fall and some are done early on with no wiggle room for add ons. It also really depends on who they are recruiting - what the coaches’ needs are. I think it’s really smart to look at the roster, see where you would fit in, see who’s graduating, what kind of movement there may be…do your homework prior to, and you’ll be in a good place (collegeswimming.com is your friend). Also, talk to your coach. Another HUGE resource. Swimming is a small world…
Our son followed this timeline: emailing/contacting coaches Jan/Feb/March. He filled out the questionaire followed up with an email along with a swimming/academic resume. Then he set up some unofficial visits in April/May/June/July with a visit to the coach at 7-8 schools (in our case). By then you should have a good idea of a potential list.
April break seems to be a key time for these types of unofficial visits, but make sure your D lets the coach know when you’ll be there and ask if they have any availability to meet…(whenever that may be)
In August our son was offered his OV’s from most of the coaches. My experience both as a coach and former athlete is that they want to get most of them done in the fall before their season really kicks in (plus, who doesn’t love places like the Northeast in the fall - haha)…and for D1, early signing is in November, don’t forget ;).
Where our son is attending next year wasn’t even on his radar until June and we visited on a fluke thinking it was just that…a visit. We thought one and done. Apparently not! You never know how things will pan out!!!
Best of luck!!!
I would think mid-late summer is fine for mid-D3, especially if versatile swimmer. My son is too. Not sure about D1. I think coaches deal with all kinds of situations, not always perfect.
Congrats to all swimmers getting into 1st choice schools! It’s a dream come true after years of hard work!
After doing some research about low D1 schools, it seems many Jesuit colleges meet criteria that my D19 likes. We are not Catholic, but the schools are small to mid-size, have majors she likes and she could perform well on a team in freshman year.
Does anyone know if she needs to register with NCAA Clearinghouse to begin talking with D1 programs? We haven’t done it yet since she has been targeting D3. Also, I’m not sure she wants to give out her test scores yet as she plans to study hard and re-take this summer. Also, she gets some interest through her collegeswimming account. Does the Clearinghouse generate interest the same way?
She needs to register before she can take an official visit. She doesn’t need to complete the registration before visiting, so doesn’t have to send in scores until she wants to.
However, the coaches are going to ask for test scores because they need to know she can get into their schools.
Coaches understand she can/will re-take the tests. I agree that it is important to share GPA and test scores so they know she has the ability to get into the school. At a second meeting we had with a coach he asked right away - is your GPA still ___? They don’t want to have their sights set on someone who is likely to be denied by admissions.
I just did NCAA eligibility for my daughter because she just took the ACT and gets 4 free score reports. When I saw what the minimum ACT was for NCAA, I nearly choked…the cutoff was so low. I sent her free score report because even if it isn’t the ACT score she wants, it will definitely be good enough for the NCAA.
Yes, you only have to send one time that meets the minimum. Most schools have a much higher requirement.
Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on what role other EC’s play in the recruiting process? Are there any circumstances which they may help, or hurt, a potential recruit?
IMO, most coaches would like to see another sport but I can see where it might be a negative to some coaches if the recruit wanted to continue with that second sport and the two sports overlap in seasons.
Thanks @twoinanddone . I was thinking more about non-athletic EC’s. Maybe coaches aren’t too excited or don’t care or rather not hear about what other activities a potential recruit participated in during HS, but do these activities ever help (or hurt) for admissions and $$, particularly at more selective/higher academic schools?
Usually ECs help, but if the recruit is already getting admitted through athletics, I don’t know how much help it would be.
If the coach can see the while in high school the student handled athletics, clubs, and academics, it can only be a good thing.