<p>This endeavor is unbelievable and I am really doubt he can make it. What I mean is he has to make the decision without playing soccer. This process is so complicated and we aren’t prepared for it.</p>
<p>Next two weeks he has three visits and I just pass along these messages and I give up. Thanks for all CC helps. In God’s hand.</p>
<p>All his choices sound good, soccerdad. It’s going to be fine: I don’t sense that there is a wrong choice on the table. At the end of the visits it should be very clear which school feels best to your son. I know it’s agonizing not to know, but keep coming here and talking, and try and stay relaxed around your son. Sending positive thoughts your way.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son on all the great choices, and congrats to you for living through it! I’m left wondering how Pomona turned out, but those NESCAC schools sound like great options at a bargain price. Hard to go wrong with any of them, as long as your son is able to figure out how soccer fits (or doesn’t fit) into the picture.</p>
<p>FauxNum,</p>
<p>Thanks for your asking.</p>
<p>Pomona was a big blow for me or us. I was down about few days and went for a 8 miles run that day to escape. The funny thing was that we got a priority mail that day but was from a different school and we though it was from Pomona that made the thing worst.</p>
<p>In the end it is good because I have to fight with my wife to get her approval because she doesn’t want to send S over there. Pomona was the only one we visited and spent lot of time there and felt academic and athletic very fit. So don’t falling in love with school. It hurts.</p>
<p>NESCAC schools admission were surprised for us but now I think about it makes sense after reviewed all the results. As an ORM you have to play your card right. S isn’t a typical ORM compares with other counterparts. At NESCAC/LAC is a right place for him at application point of view I think. We are just lucky be at the right place. Top schools admission is extreme competitive you have to know where and when to use your card.</p>
<p>good idea checking who stays…My S is decideing between 2 schools one is a better school giving him a big grant but he was not recruited their and they have many many new recruits but tell him everyone has opp to walk on the other is offerering good merit aid and a spot on roster but school isnt as academically sound and I think he might be happier at school1 …he thinks he really wants to play and therefore that might be how he decides
any advice</p>
<p>My advice is to never pick a school based on athletics alone. As had been said many times… you might not gel with the team, the coach, or the coach could leave. You could be injured, etc. Lots of reasons to look at the whole picture. As I’ve said, my kid had really hoped to play. That it didn’t work out this season was hugely disappointing, but it would have been even more so had he not loved the school - classes, professors, friends, night life - as much as he does.</p>
<p>Sorry about Pomona, SD, but your son obviously has some great options!</p>
<p>Update:</p>
<p>School A : My wife and I visited local open house and she crossed out this one. She felt that S wouldn’t fit there. People we met at the party were very loyal to each other and very brotherhood/sisterhood but it doesn’t fit for S.</p>
<p>Schools B : S had two wonderful trips last week. Met with coach and assistant coach 45 minutes and will have try out in September. Didn’t have a chance to talk other coach. NESCAC schools.</p>
<p>Schools C : The last visiting this week. Coaches still wanted him. The best fit academically and athletically. </p>
<p>S missed so much school days. Now he has to go to school on Saturday or community services which he will opt to since there is no much days left to make up day on Saturday.</p>
<p>Actually we did visit two local open houses last night within 6 miles distance. School A had a lot of alum showed up. Very loyal each other if you fit in. School B had much less alum showed up but we felt S might like it there. Going to private school is a culture shock for us and try to find the best fit.</p>
<p>Thanks for checking in, SoccerDad. Glad B looks good, leaving you all in a position to evaluate C knowing you’ve already got an option that would work.</p>
<p>This process tests everyone’s patience. Hang in there SoccerDad, and let us know what he decides.</p>
<p>The visits are important- sorry your son’s high school doesn’t forgive these absences. Our seniors get excused absences for college visits if they bring home a letter signed by admissions or the coach at the school. This seems like the right thing to me, especially when these are kids who are able to keep their grades up even when they miss school.</p>
<p>Concerning your comment about the local open houses and fitting in: I’m assuming you’re a first generation US citizen (you communicate very well, but I’m guessing you have command of some other languages as well as English :)) I’m curious about how your son feels about all this. Is he being made to feel an outsider, or is this just another situation that is new to your family? I’d only be worried if I felt the schools he was considering weren’t welcoming to your family and willing to include you and be friendly to all of you, even if you don’t have ancestors who came over on the Mayflower.</p>
<p>River,</p>
<p>Not here. His school gave him/us a lot of hard time. Even sent a letter to tell us do something otherwise see us in court. School has very strict rules to follow.</p>
<p>S likes community services anyway. He is tutoring at his middle school. Demographic changed a lot after he graduated and those kids need help.</p>
<p>Let me put this way. School A has lot of traditions or values they are proud of. There is nothing wrong with it if you are insider or outsider who try to get in. It is up to you to decide which is more important for you. S is a mix which carries east and west side of look and values. He is tall and handsome and good common sense on his shoulder. Play music and soccer competitively. I have no doubt he will fit in if he tried in the end. Everyone has to be adjusted to fit in a new environment but how much degree you are willing to. My daughter did a lot of changes to fit in a new world when she went to college. She is willing to change to commentate a new world because her personality but I don’t believe he will change something is important for him in order to fit in. This is a two cent thought.</p>
<p>Again there is nothing wrong with school A. If I was my S I will do it but my wife and S wouldn’t. It is just a personality different. Plus throw away $54k/year scholarship just unthinkable for me.</p>
<p>SoccerDad, I think I’d really trust your son to make a good decision on this. I know what you mean about turning down the money. It just seems crazy! However, your son is going to continue growing up over the next four years. Going to school in a place that makes him feel that he is accepted for who he is, and should not be expected to make huge compromises in his values or personal style is important. I don’t think this is as much about him feeling “happy” while he’s at school, but more about the fact that he can continue to unfold and grow into the adult he was meant to be, and not feel forced into a particular mold.</p>
<p>Yes, I totally agreed that. I wish that DD had this view of life as you mentioned. We raised two kids the same way but different results so far.</p>
<p>S finally has decided to take school A as his next four year college life and I am happy for him.</p>
<p>The last one week S has been pondering which schools you should choice. Now it is over. In the end he was not so excited for his decision. I am little worry if he is going to happy there.</p>
<p>He created a matrix that consisted of academic, science major, soccer, FA, facility, location, fit and many others. School A came as a 5 among 11 schools. His favor school was one of schools C which offered him a very good FA, varsity soccer spot, music scholarship program and the most fit environment. After struggle days S overrode the emotion decision and made the deposit yesterday for school A.</p>
<p>The reason being was:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The different between schools was not justified to throw away a full ride and debt free option.</p></li>
<li><p>Fit or happiness was attitude. He felt he can take an action to change it. Especially there are so many freshmen with whom he can make friends before the wall started to build up.</p></li>
<li><p>The money he saved that could use it for his medical school. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>S was tore between emotion and logical decision this past week but I am glad it is over for college application. Now he should focus on enjoying his decision for rest of his senior year which are full of parties, recitals and soccer tournaments.</p>
<p>Journey in recruiting in this thread is over. It is a new chapter now. I will post some advises to those new comers, like me who is ignorance and too late to play this complicated game. </p>
<p>PS. He is going to take a walk on/try out for this coming fall which I think he has a pretty chance to get accepted.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting, SoccerDad. Your son sounds like he’s making a very mature decision: he understands his own attitude will determine how most of this goes, and he’s being very respectful of the financial picture. You must be so proud of him. Let us know how the soccer part turns out, and how he feels about all this once he gets to school. Congratulations on being DONE with this part of things.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>What do you think about that to attend soccer camp in June for school A is a good ideal since he is going to walk on team this Fall? Please advise? Pre-season camp starts in Auguster for school A.</p>
<p>soccerdad, I’d ask the coach if other post-high schoolers are attending this camp, or if it’s intended for students still going into their senior year and younger. If it’s OK with the coach, and fits with your son’s schedule, I say send him.</p>
<p>Agree.</p>
<p>S is not recruited but pre-season camp is recruited athletic only. S could have walk on after move in day which will be in September. The reason I am asking is to let coach to see S instead after move in day so he can be invited to pre-season camp. I don’t know if it is feasible or not because it is a strange case. Like to hear from CC. Thanks.</p>
<p>I agree with riverrunner. Your son should contact the coach and ask if it is alright for him to attend camp. If so and if your son attends (which given your description of the situation I would recommend) then if the coach likes what he sees it would seem likely that he would ask your son to attend the pre-season camp. Your son has nothing to lose by asking, and potentially a lot to gain by going.</p>