<p>Does anyone have experience with walking on to a diving team? I'll be attending Dartmouth College in the fall and I was hoping to get some more information before contacting the coach. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think every coach (and maybe schools in general?) have their own view on walk ons. A friend of my D’s hoped to walk on to the women’s lax team at Dartmouth and was encouraged to come to the summer camp for a look. Long story short, following the camp, the coach told her that she fell outside their needs for this season (mostly because she had recruited heavily in her position already. Not sure how diving works, but in a field sport you are in direct competition with however many more players there are in whatever position you play. Our own D however was told that walk ons were not typically needed but she could attend the camp and be given an honest read. She went to the camp but had thought maybe club was a better fit after seeing they already had a very confident recruit coming in. However, the Coach was the one to convince her otherwise once the school year began. </p>
<p>So… if there is a way to see who has already been recruited etc, that might give you some insight, that’d be a good place to start. However, you could also just write the coach and ask point blank what their walk on policy is. You’re already in the school, so it’s not like they need any input from Admission. It’s an IVY so they have no scholarship money to give regardless. Besides time and space, there is no skin off their back to see you. Like I said, from what I know about Dartmouth in SOME sports is they will consider walk ons, but they do not typically wait for the season to start to make a determination.</p>
<p>Congrats on getting into Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I am sure that the coach will be happy to talk with you!</p>
<p>Diving? Diving? Are you kidding? If you can dive they will welcome you with open arms!!
No Ivy has enough good divers and they will be thrilled to see you if you have some talent and you are willing to work hard.</p>
<p>Congrats on Dartmouth!</p>
<p>If you are definitely attending, you should contact the coach now, not sure what other info you would want before initiating dialogue. Worst case they will tell you they have a full roster (VERY unlikley) best case they will start contacting you on training, fall schedule and introduce you to your future teammates (via Facebook, etc.) giving you some instant friends when you get to campus in the fall.</p>
<p>What do you have to lose? Really. You are already at Dartmouth (Congrats!). Talk to the coach, start practicing, and try out. Its not that complicated.</p>
<p>My sons Ivy baseball coach takes a few walk-ons every year. Son tells me they are among the hardest workers on the team.</p>
<p>Good luck and please let us know how it works out.</p>