<p>S is a rising junior with impressive, though not jaw-dropping times in his swim events. His GPA however is a lackluster 3.29 (in all fairness he has taken honors courses across the board and his school does not weight GPA). His PSATs suggest his SAT scores are going to be redeeming especially the math. I was going to suggest to him that he continue contacting coaches who come across his profile on their own, and reach out to schools he has an interest in that are less academically selective, but that he hold off on contacting some of the tougher schools eg. the Patriot League until he also has those SAT scores to help more accurately portray him. He'll take it in October, so we'll have from November to next July to try to generate interest. Do you think the GPA is off-putting enough that this is a good idea?</p>
<p>I do think it’s a good idea. Coaches may have some swimmers on their radar but they are still busy with the current year’s recruiting to the point where I doubt that not contacting them so soon would make a difference at all. </p>
<p>My daughter was recruited by two Patriot League schools, and she didn’t contact either one of them until the summer after her junior year, and she went on visits to both. Also the Patriot League academics vary so it depends which school. </p>
<p>Also, as you know, times drop significantly as the boys grow, so that will open doors as well if he can bring his times more into the jaw-dropping range! 
He’s going into the most important year for the coaches to look at, so I’d tell him to focus on his times and his grades, and worry about the coaching contact after the next championship season has ended. Make sure the coaches he really wants to meet know which meets he’s swimming in, and then sit by the phone next July 1…Good luck!</p>