TF/XC College Search, Recruiting Advice & Process

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>First, thanks to all who post such great information on this site. As a parent new to the world of college admissions and athletic recruiting, finding CC has been fantastic.</p>

<p>My eldest D is a Junior. This season she took a tremendous leap forward in her commitment to and achievement in her running. While running is important to her, as far as college goes, I think we all view it as a way to possibly get into a school that she may not otherwise get into. She would love to go Ivy, loves Wash U and has a few other selective schools on her list. She doesn't want to go to an extremely large school - maybe 6000-12000 undergrads, is not interested in greek life (at least for now), and would like a school with a 'real campus', unlike perhaps NYU, which she has seen. </p>

<p>So I will give you her profile and I am hoping to get an idea of what strong academic schools may be a fit for her, where her running may give her an admissions edge. She says she is not a D1 candidate and that's ok with her because she thinks that a big, rah-rah school, where the focus on sports is high is not for her. Also, I think she created an NCAA account but am not sure she has used it for anything. I am under the impression that the site is a portal to send your profile to college coaches. Is that the best way to get on their radar? She did receive one athletic recruiting letter so I guess they can find her too. </p>

<p>Current Running Stats
800 - 2:33
1600 - 5:27
3200 - 11:36
5k - 19:40</p>

<p>Academic Stats
IB Student
Ranked 5 of about 450 in class
Unweighted GPA - 4.0
Weighted GPA - 4.67
SAT 2130
ACT 32 (hoping for a higher # on exam taken last week)
Will have IB tests + at least 3 AP tests</p>

<p>Your thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated!!</p>

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<p>Hello AZDA - your daughter seems to be doing great, both athletically and academically. I think her academics would make her admissible just about anywhere as a recruited athelte. (Admissible almost anywhere without the athletic hook.)</p>

<p>Athletic recruiting is really a supply and demand game. In any given year her desirability as an athlete will depend on each school’s needs and the caliber of athlete in the pool. That said, you can look back on some conference meets and see some consistency in the times of the athletes that are scoring points. In the high-academic conferences that interest her, there is no such thing as red-shirting - so coaches really want kids that can come in and contribute right away.</p>

<p>I’d say - very generally speaking - that to be recruited (get some admissions support) in the Ivy League her times should be in this range:</p>

<p>800 - sub 2:15
1600 - around 5:00</p>

<p>So, she’s probably correct that she’s not quite at a D1 level yet. But she might be a good fit in the NESCAC, WashU or UChicago. Competitive times at these schools are in this range:</p>

<p>800 - around 2:25
1600 - around 5:15</p>

<p>The NCAA portal that you mentioned is not a way to get on the coach radar, The best bet is to email the coach directly with a brief note listing academics and times. Also, don’t (daughter) be afraid to pick up the phone. One last really important tip: While she may in fact be casting a broad net (advised), it’s important that the coach feels she is definitely interested in his program and he isn’t being used as a safety. This is especially true at WashU and UChicago. I spoke with one of those coaches and he said he gets hundreds of emails weekly from prospective recruits and has to try and sort through and find the ones that really want to run for him and are worth pursuing, as opposed to the kid that just wants to go to a good school, any good school, and is sending out 25 generic emails.</p>

<p>So even if her times are just on the edge - she may be able to give it an extra nudge by targeting the school the right way. As long as I’m rambling let me throw one more thing out - don’t use a recruiting service. Have her do this on her own with email and phone calls. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks for your insight Varska!</p>

4

<p>AZDADMG - here is part of post i started back in December - i tried to modify for you somewhat</p>

<p>Research the schools that you are looking at; understand the program and what they are trying to accomplish. Find out if they offer athletic scholorships for running, you would be surprised at how many do not.</p>

<p>Taking OV’s is difficult with the timing - XC season can run into late November and then the school’s do not want you after thanksgiving due to Finals. by the time the schools return in session you are about to start running the important Indoor Track events. I recommend taking the OV’s in early September. This will give you a feel for the school and also keep you menatally fresh for your team. Do not want to be running Counties on Saturday thinking about how you are going to XYZ U on Sunday for an overnight</p>

<p>you have to decide also is running going to help me get into a school that i might normally not have gotten into or am i looking to maximize my potential scholarship $$$?</p>

<p>Email the coaches with updates and when sending in your times to them, provide a link so they can easily verify. Fill out the athletic questionaire on the web site - it helps get you in the coaches data base. That NCAA data Base is nothing more than a clearing house - coaches do not recruit from there. You will need to do the work to get recruited</p>

<p>Visit the school if you can - contact the coach and let them know you are going to be there and if you could stop by and introduce yourself.</p>

<p>Understand the climate that you are looking at - if you are from a warm weather state going U of Vermont might not be a great fit…it gets cold running in 20 degree weather. Think also about altitude, running in the mountains can be beautiful but at 4,000 feet oxygen is at a premium.</p>

<p>The school he ended up verbally committing to was probably the most difficult school that was in his final 6, without being crazy academically.</p>

<p>As a point of reference one of my sons teamates is going to the same D1 school he is and her times are:</p>

<p>10:15 for the 3,000
4:50 for the1,500
2:20 for the 800</p>

<p>Remember T&F scholorships are RENEWABLE yearly, so if they are offering you 25% this year and you fall way down the pecking order… So when picking a school reminder to pick one that you want to go to studay at as well.</p>

<p>If i can be of any help please reach out to me </p>