My son is interested in playing tennis at a D3 college (Haverford, Hamilton, Dickinson, F&M, Muhlenberg, Hobart) or at Lafayette (D1). He is a rising senior and has been in touch with all of the coaches. He is scheduled to meet with some of them and the teammates in September. Does anyone have any experience with playing tennis at any of these schools? What was the recruitment process after meeting with the coach? Did your child apply ED1, ED2 or neither. Thanks for your help. I should also mention that my son has a 9.5 UTR.
I have experience with D3 recruiting for tennis, but not with any of the schools you have listed. The recruiting process at the schools on my kiddo’s list required the recruit to apply ED in exchange for coach support.
D3 can be nerve-wracking because there are no likely letters or signed NLI guarantees, so you need to make sure you ask each coach how much pull they have with admissions because that pull can vary drastically from one school to the next.
If I remember correctly, I believe that Haverford has been discussed on this forum, I would definitely check out that thread before committing to Haverford if that school ends up being your son’s top choice.
Good luck!
The consensus from parent experience with Haverford – primarily with men’s laxcrosse but seems to happen in other sports as well – is that recruited status for an athlete going ED at Haverford is more like at MIT or Cal Tech (where it means very little) than it is like the NESCAC schools with tips and slots. Whether that stems from the fact that, given the small size of the student body and the distinctive culture based on Quaker values – so that fit really matters – or the Athletic dept/Admissions relationship (and is probably a combination of those and other factors) --recruited athletes seem to have to be students who would otherwise be admitted, not just on stats but on fit. So the “pull” seems very light at Haverford.
Do you have his tennisrecruiting ranking? His Universal Tennis ranking? Check how he compares with the current roster, and you should have your answer on his recruitability, given that his academic stats will allow him admission.
Thank you! Yes, Haverford was discussed - but not for tennis. I believe it was for lacrosse.
my kid is flying home tonight from an OV to a school in the Centennial Conference. Inbox me if you want our perspective.