<p>Recently I've been thinking that playing at the highest level would be the best idea. I was very late in the recruiting game, and almost got recruited by 2 D1 programs but it just didn't work out. I then ended up getting pretty heavily recruited by some D3 programs where they play my sport at a pretty good level. Just as a piece of background, first and foremost I am a scholar, and I want to go to a school with a top academic program in my desired field, so I have applied to some very good schools. </p>
<p>When I was trying to get recruited, I didn't even try to contact Duke or Stanford because I thought I had no chance. But if I get into these schools academically, is there a possibility of walking-on, especially if my club helps me do so? My club has some pretty good connections, so part of me thinks it's worth trying. But is this a good idea?</p>
<p>Seems like a little research would tell you how many walkons have been on the roster of each of your schools the past few years; that might be useful</p>
<p>It also depends on if you want to really play, or just be a part of the team - and if you want to play, what are the odds of that happening? Some kids just want to be a part of a certain program, so walking on is great, and sometimes a walk on is good enough to play. But I have also heard of many situations where walk on means practice player at best, and water carrier at worst…</p>
<p>Second thought is that if you are truly a scholar first, even at Duke or Stanford players are athletes first, and the commitment with travel, etc is HUGE. D2 and D3 tend to focus on student first, and travel is minimized so you miss a lot less school.</p>
As a parent of a Duke student-athlete, I’m going to respectfully disagree. For basketball you’re probably right, but athletes in non-marquee sports are students first.</p>
<p>I get the impression soccer is a fairly “marquee” sport at Duke, but not sure. And don’t get me wrong, I totally respect the student athletes at Duke, I am the parent of a student athlete and the commitment and dedication shown by these kids to excel in the classroom and in their sport blows me away daily. I was just trying to make the point that as a scholarshipped athlete at a D1 school (in a major sport), the sport DOES take priority in terms of practice, games, travel, classes missed etc, and for most walk ons that time commitment is no different. Just seemed something additional to think about.</p>
<p>I think it really comes down to the athlete and what they have to offer. If a coach will allow a walk on and the athlete is truly gifted the coach would be nuts to ignore that. I know some athletes at Stanford in a different sport and academics do come first because they have to. Also Stanford cannot override admissions to get a player in a sport. I know a couple of guys who ended up at USC who wanted Stanford and Stanford wanted them but they did not have the test scores to get accepted. No reason not to give it a shot. I would contact the coach though and ask if he will allow a tryout.</p>
<p>What I meant by I am a scholar first is that I have very good scores and grades, take the IB Program, etc. I would have no problem fully committing to the team, as I want to be at the highest level I can. My current club coach was a former professional and I play for a high-profile club in my area, but I only got recruited and picked up by the club last summer. If I had been there as a junior, I am convinced I would’ve been recruited D1 with the connections they have and the confidence they have in me as a player. That being said, I wouldn’t expect to play too much at a D1 program, “marquee” sport or not, but I just want to be involved at the highest possible level.</p>
<p>The whole walk-on phenom really depends on the sport, the coaches, the availability of money scholarship(athletic/academic) the institution track record with walk-ons. I think the one writer who stated does the player want to be on the team or a player is the real question.</p>
<p>I walked on 30 plus years ago in basketball at a top 30 program, today that would never happen—if it does, it’s because the coaching staff are working to split money, or keep a recruit captive ,either by red-shirt/sending to a prep school school etc… In football it happens also, but again it depends on a lot on football staff. Now in the other sports I’d say because of the types of schools it will depend. Soccer at UNC/Indiana or powerhouses, I think being a walk-on is a wish. At some of the lesser competitive schools sure you could walk on—it’s worth a try. </p>
<p>I would never discourage a fellow walk on, for me it turned into a very good experience but it was alot and I do mean alot of work and dedication that many of my team mates didn’t have to deal with like being in a real college program that resulted in a viable degree. BUT IT CAN BE DONE, JUST BE SMART ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL CHOICE AND YOUR LEVEL OF DESIRE TO PUT UP WITH MAYBE NOT PLAYING WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE TALENT TO PLAY.</p>
<p>Agree with the previous post. It really depends on the sports and schools. D got into both Harvard and Princeton and approached both coaches (swimming) about walking on. While the P coach was enthusiastic and gracious, meeting with D during Preview and eventually offering her a walkon spot, the H coach replied to her inquiry with a thanks, but no thanks email. H won the Ivy this year, but P was 2nd and not far behind. </p>
<p>An important point also is that D decided to go with H and gave up the chance to swim because there are just so many more things that she wants to do in college. It was a hard decision but a right one. She can’t be happier now with all the EC she is involved in. There is a new world of adventures out there you might want to explore once you get into these colleges.</p>
<p>Playing devils advocate on the whole “college experience”, the other side of the coin is if he does not try then he may always have the “what if” feelings. College might be his last chance to participate at a high level… then its done and over. If he loves the game then I say go for it. I was a college athlete, my husband was a juco player and both our kids have chosen to play college sports. So far its been great all the way around… at every level.</p>
<p>Very true. I believe the student athlete experience is extremely valuable. Unlike his sister, there is nothing my S wants more than being challenged athletically to the highest level at a great academic institution. My point is if the OP can walk on it’s great. If not, the world is there for him to explore.</p>
<p>Another question: In the next week or so I will be getting the majority of my admissions notifications, then I have between then and May 1st to decide on where I want to go. Now… I already have been accepted to a wonderful D3 LAC and would be on the team, what would I do between April and May to make it happen? Would I just have to take the dive at one of the D1 schools (if admitted), and then have the tryout come pre-season time? If that were the case… wouldn’t I have to risk losing the opportunity to play at all if I wasn’t accepted as a walk-on?</p>
<p>yes, you would be taking a risk if you do not enroll where you have been accepted by both admissions & the soccer coach. there is no guarantee that the coach somewhere else will take you as a walk on. you could end up playing club or intramural- which is a blast. but its nowhere near “playing at the highest level”… bird in hand or a hundred on the hill…all the best.</p>
<p>My take on walk-ons, for fall sports at least, is that you are welcome to attend practices etc and I guess they will evaluate you or whatever. The catch, based on what I saw with football, is that the recruited players will show up for “camp” about 2 weeks before starts. They will move in early and practice hard. I got the impression that the “walk ons” are not invited or eligible to come to camp. That would put you at a disadvantage to make the team depending how many spots are still available and how good you are.</p>
<p>Since soccer is a fall sport you need to ask when camp is and if you would be able to attend. If you are not able to attend then you need to be busting your butt training before you get on campus. </p>
<p>I could be wrong, but it’s worth asking about just in case.</p>