We didn’t get super far in the process with them, but my recollection at Wesleyan a few years ago was that even if they weren’t going to be submitted with the ED app the coach still wanted the scores and said they would have to be submitted post-decision.
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We are currently going through the process with an NESCAC school and just received a coach email today explaining next steps: submitting transcripts 9-12th grades, 20-21 course selection, high school profile and SAT/ACT results. After he has these he wants to schedule a call to discuss and submit for an early read.
He already has her transcript and her course selection. Her high school is rigorous and rated highly. She doesn’t have test scores…rescheduled for June.
The test scores request makes us a little anxious. She is probably a B band recruit without test scores but he has stated she’s a top recruit.
It’s a top pick for her. Any chance she’ll make it in?
The coach is the only one who can answer your question.
The more imminent question is will the coach send your kid’s info to admissions for a pre-read without a test score…that is what you need to directly ask.
Most/all of the NESCACs have gone test optional as you probably already know. If your daughter had scores, she would have submitted them. If she just does not have them, you can’t get blood from a stone – in other words, right now, it is absolutely impossible to take the SAT before the July prereads start. Impossible. The schools know this! That is why they went test optional. Yes, they would like to have test scores, but if they just can’t, then they can’t. One NESCAC coach told my son that the school was asking for a writing sample (i.e. a paper) in lieu of the test scores. So absolutely, ask the coach. The school will have thought of this question for its athletic recruits already, and I can pretty much guarantee you that your daughter is not the only one w/o test scores.
All of these questions/observations are really valuable at this point for those of us with prospective student athletes who are looking to navigate the "test optional " territory in '21. My daughter (tennis athlete class of '21), who has not taken the SAT yet, is intending to apply test optional to all of her colleges. She is a solid athlete and been contacted by a number of coaches (two from desired schools) but is not a state superstar or looking for a full ride, just looking to play on a team and have the experience to complement her academics. Right now we are looking at 10 D3, and two very low D2s, all private fairly small LACs. In light of all the new “test optional” alowances does anyone have any texture on getting acepted “before” submitting scores and then getting on a team. Her teammates over the last couple of years have landed in D1s, elite D3s, etc., but never in this new environment where standardized tests are being waived. Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
After layering through another thread, “ABCs of Recruiting” that was very informative - went into all the bands of recruitment, etc. - one poster and a few supporters noted “Test early. If you can never get a 29, you are never going Ivy or NESCAC, no matter how good you are.” If all of these schools use a very competivie “index” made up of unweighted GPA and Standardized test scores to determine your “band” - is it really realistic that any of the elite schools (little Ivies and up) are really going to forego this stringent arithmetic simply because the ACT/SAT is delayed, especially if still formally required by payers at Div 1 and Div 2 schools?
If by “Little Ivies” you mean certain NESCAC schools, they have already gone test optional. And I confirmed with my son’s college counselor that one should not (as part of the preread) submit any scores unless they are a 1400 (or ACT equivalent). Test optional means no test scores are necessary for the preread.
Historically, this has not been true for all TO schools, including some NESCACs…meaning some required test scores from some (maybe all?) recruited athletes for pre-reads.
This year though things may be different though…as always clarify things with the coach…including the question “if I don’t submit a test score for a pre-read, and others do, am I at a disadvantage”?
This year is different @Mwfan1921 . I can’t go into details but again, this was confirmed with the NESCAC’s admissions office, which is even more “the horse’s mouth” than the coach.
I get it and believe you. But one NESCAC admission office doesn’t speak for other NESCACs, or other DIIIs.
My point is that even though things will be different this year, they won’t be the same across all schools whether we are talking TO, or not.
If a coach wants you, he/she will do whatever paints your preread in the best light. I wouldn’t be cagey about telling the coach your score. They can help you figure out the best way to frame it for the preread. Maybe ask if given the current state of testing they can submit without the score.
Thank you both very much for the observations and discourse. Very informative and most appreciated. On my daughter’s end, of the two key unsolicited reach outs from coaches at elite colleges my daughter has been interested in who asked to set up calls, in those calls, after the pleasantries were exchanged and a short backgrounder given, it got to “have you taken your SATs yet and what was the score?”. It was always at what seemed question number 3 that I heard my daughter answer. Granted, that was a couple of weeks ago. I guess only time will tell when not integrating (vs. requiring) scores becomes across the board policy vs. anectdotal as far as sports recruitment
There has always been the “we’re test optional” policy touted in some select schools Chicago or Bowdoin for example. But my gut from the pre-Covid 19 days was in reality that was on a “nudge nudge wink wink” basis, and if Kid A had the same basic stats and ECs as Kid B, but Kid A had those genius standardized testing scores, the lottery prize unequivocally goes to Kid A every time, with very few exceptions, mostly reserved for the underprivilged kid or the kid with some kind of outlier circumstance or a narrative that could be directly tied to not submitting a score. This will definitely be interesting to see how it all plays out for the solid (but not state superstar) athlete with strong academics and comparable ECs and an enthusiastic disposition who applies TO. Again, I very much appreciate the insights you have provided thus far.
Adding that as of right now, NCAA still requires a test score for recruited athletes in DI/II (not DIII, that is up to each school.)
NCAA waived the test score requirement for class of 2020 but not so far for Class of 2021…it probably depends on whether tests will be going in the Fall, although both ACT and CB say they will have online in-home testing capability by Fall. So it’s difficult to say what to expect at least for DI/II.
I have a 2021 T&F athlete who has received recruiting interest but not taken the SAT. Do you think there is a chance these schools will look at PSAT scores if the SAT/ACT is not an option for the 2021’s? If the PSAT scores were good, it would help build the coach’s case with admissions.
@RockySoil it depends on the school. Williams is asking for a paper (writing sample) in lieu of test scores.
I would absolutely ask the coaches about this. Seems a good PSAT score could help, and certainly wouldn’t hurt the case.
My daughter just got off a zoom meeting with coaches from an elite DIII, not NESCAC, school. What we understood from this call:
If you do not have test scores the other parts of your application will be scrutinized more thoroughly: Essay, teacher recs, EC’s. The coach has 5-8 players he can fully support through the admissions process and with his support there is a 99% chance they’ll get in. He has coached there 20+ years with only two players who didn’t get in with ED…both were waitlisted, one did get in and one went elsewhere. If he is asking you to apply ED it means there’s a more than good chance you’ll get in.
2021 recruits will not be affected by 2020’s possible taking a gap year even if it means carrying a bigger roster.
This school is going test optional only for 2021 and its pretty recent so they are still figuring it all out.
Thank you for sharing this info! Very informative. Also good to know about this gap year situation not directly impacting the 2021s (at least at this school). Definitely positive.
My take on recruiting TO athletes is this…
Each school probably has a certain maximum # of kids they want to accept without test scores. I would imagine that each coach has a maximum # of athletes they can “support” without test scores, and I doubt it’s too many, maybe none depending on the sport. I don’t think the Nescac wants to have a whole team made up of kids who did not submit tests, would seem a bit shady I guess.
So from a coaches standpoint it’s a lot easier to support a kid who has a proven minimally acceptable test score to submit. Why not ask a kid to take it again? Coach has nothing to lose. As an athlete if you are counting on getting support from the coach to get in, it makes sense to submit a decent score if you can. That way you have coach support, good scores, good grades, basically a slam dunk with admissions. Remove one of those 3 things from the equation and things get murky.
My son’s boarding school is very well connected. His college counselor confirmed first with his source at NESCAC and then with the specific school: For athletic recruiting, the NESCACS are test optional. Full stop. Don’t know why that’s so hard to believe.
Now, anything that bolsters an athlete’s application is a good thing. So sure, if the kid has a 1450, absolutely they should submit that score! And, absolutely, without the board scores other aspects of the application will be weighted more heavily. But kids that are applying to academically elite NESCACs know they need the grades. Bottom line, if you have a strong application (top grades etc) you will not be penalized.
Btw, this applies to ALL applicants, not just athletes. Nothing murky about it. Give the schools a bit more credit-- they can figure out which kids will do well at their schools, even in the absence of a board score.
ETA “Why not adk the kid to take it again?”
- Some kids haven't even taken the test a first time, let alone retake.
- Because, at this point it is literally impossible to retake as the test is not being offered. If this remains the situation in the fall, well, then, it is literally impossible for a kid to retake, no matter how much they want to.