We are in PA. A D3 school asked my son to do ED but he told them he will only do EA or RD. He told me his plan is to apply to the schools he wants to go to and wherever he gets accepted he will try to do walk on to the team.Does this happen often?
@Novacat9191,we looked at Lafayette campus yesterday.
@SaraS81 it will really depend on the school, I think Penn State hold try-outs and they keep a pretty big roster but I don’t think they take many. Outside of D1 they do have a club team too.
What did you think about Lafayette? Did you see the fencing coach?
Lafayette is beautiful. It will be a lil closer to home. We don’t know the coach and we don’t know much about their fencing team. Someone mentioned to us Lafayette that’s why we went and walked around campus to see how he would like it. He said it’s ok.
Not a college recruit expert myself but am a little surprised about the traction (or not so much) that your son received. If you look at the D1 college stats file from fencingparents, many fencers on the current roster were not top 40 on the junior list. Yes his SAT is definitely on the lower side which he knows and is working on. Other than that, I would say he is kinda late to the recruiting cycle; top colleges are probably done or almost done.
Most of the answer my son got from the coaches are if you get in to our school we have a spot for you. I think that’s why he said he will continue to work hard and see which school he will get accepted to and hopefully can fence for a team.
I am sure coaches would love a walk on of his caliber. Good luck!
@MDHopefulDad, thank you! 
EuroFening just posted the schedule for cadet circuits for 2021-22 season, but USFencing haven’t assigned the designated events yet.
@Fencer2023 Thank you 
@fencingguru, the 3 Canadian girl recruits in my daughter’s weapon are excellent fencers, accomplished on the Junior level, have competed in some NACs, and were all known by the American fencers. The coaches solicited advice from members of the WE team before offering a recruitment space to the incoming Freshman WE from Canada. One of the most successful NCAA WE fencers on the team is from Canada. There are no Canadian recruits who aren’t excellent fencers and vital members of the team.
Hi everyone - hope you all had a good safe start to a new school year. I have a few questions: My 2023 fencer had several zooms with D1 coaches (seemed to go well) before Summer Nats. He received one offer for an official visit (we’re going in a few weeks!) to a D1 school but otherwise nothing else. He’s a strong fencer in cadet (although we know that isn’t a priority) and top 64 in Jr/Sr, had really strong international results, but he had a very weak NAC season - hard time coming back from covid. Should we assume no other schools are interested in him and should that be a deterrent? What should be our next step to reach back out to some of the schools? He’s unsure what he wants to major in and not entirely sure what college he wants, but has 3-4 schools (some D1, some D3) that he likes. Are we totally off track here - did we miss the boat or some steps, like should he have been emailing coaches all summer - does he seem uninterested since he’s just reaching back out now? No SATs scores yet - will take in October - but otherwise a 4.0 average. Thank you!
First off, COVID has cast a confusing pall over all systems and schedules, including NCAA recruiting. Don’t get discouraged. Your son presents an interesting amalgam – Good Cadet results, but less stellar results in Juniors/Seniors. Strong international results but, whatever the reasons, weak recent NAC results. Strong GPA, but no ACT/SAT score to report yet. It would seem predictable from the foregoing that he would attract interest from D3s, with small interest from D1s. Depending on your son’s academic aspirations, the D1 expressing official interest may be ideal or just not in the running. If his D1 choices are elite academic schools, his chances will be less based on his fencing stats, even if he can gain some traction with a top standardized test score to add to his top-level GPA. He will have a better shot at a Big Box D1. But D3s provide a wealth of elite academic schools with competitive fencing teams They may not be NCAA Championship caliber, but they are superb schools with enthusiastic, competitive fencing squads. In any case, it is still early in many cases. Although top recruits may have received offers during the summer, not every top program can fill its wish list the first time around. Others on this thread will also attest to the often-shocking turnarounds in commitment that suddenly leave a spot in your son’s weapon open at a top program with a recruitment slot to use. So, don’t lose heart. Use the start of the school year to follow-up with as many coaches as you want. Also, don’t forget that the early national fencing season provides new opportunities for your son to rebound and perhaps attract some recruiting attention. Good luck!
Thank you for the insights. Very helpful perspective. Oddly, no D3 reached out to him- although he did zoom with one at his reaching out. I guess that’s a signal as well. Very frustrating but I’m trying to keep optimistic.
I would like to revisit the D3 because I do believe, as you pointed out, that they’re very fine schools and fencing teams. I know my son is looking for an elite academic setting but I feel that where he may align academically, his fencing might not be a fit, and where he’ll fit for fencing may not offer the academics he would like. Do you think he needs to say anything about his NAC season to either the official visit coach or to anyone he reaches out to now? Thank you again for the guidance!
Our experience is D3s rarely unilaterally reach out to prospects, but rather work with the prospects that reach out to them. Have your son send emails to coaches. There’s a fencing resume template floating about in this forum. If you can’t find it, send me a DM and I’ll email you one.
Also be aware that in D3, it’s a mixed bag regarding coach “pull” for admissions in the most selective D3 schools. Given your son’s GPA, as long as test scores align with that GPA, you should be in a good position.
Moral of the story: In D3, the fencer usually initiates the recruiting process, not the other way around.
Thank you- I appreciate it. I hadn’t seen the template-will check!
What @stencils said. Definitely reach out to D3 schools. D1 top academic schools for someone like your son with mixed results can be hit or miss. My daughter had a visit with a D1 school (grades/scores similar to your son’s), but ultimately it was a no go - she wanted a commitment from the coach, and they could not give it to her before their top choices committed. With D3, do ask about probability of acceptance with coach support - some coaches were pretty forthcoming, some coaches were less so, and our results kind of reflected that.
Thank you. Did your fencer end up at a D3? Hope all worked out well.
Yes, she did, she ended up at an academically competitive D3 school. She applied early (ED2), and the coach basically guaranteed admission (which is what she wanted). We also knew that she was his top pick.
Congratulations! btw, Is there a set of D3 schools that are considered “academically competitive”? I have my own notions but didn’t know if that was an unofficial designation on a set of D3 schools?
Academically competitive D3 is a subjective list rather than anything formal, but it’s probably the schools you are thinking of. Brandeis, Hopkins, MIT, Cal Tech, for example.