<p>Through sports, my S has opportunities to likely get into 2 highly selective schools that he otherwise would not get into. Both are D3 schools in the northeast, one is a LAC. His SAT is 1820, just took again, ACT 25 also retaking. 4.0 GPA at a Jesuit school, 6 AP courses.</p>
<p>We have had OV at both schools. The first is a very competitive rigorous university, and the HC has said he will support us through admissions, advised specifically how to apply (what college, etc.), and said do ED. They have an ED1 and ED2. He is now pushing us for ED1. He will not guarantee that my S will get in, though. The early estimate on the FA looks fine.</p>
<p>The second school, the LAC, also says they are very interested, pre-screened all the academic info with the admissions lliason, but will not state that he will support through admissions. When asked, says we need to see how scores play out, but is telling us to apply ED. Parents of players on the team have said that ED is the only time that the coach can influence admissions. FA looks good here,too.</p>
<p>My S likes school one better, but is not 100% sold on it. He has apps in at other schools of lesser caliber, wants to keep his options open, although these are the only two that are actively recruiting him.</p>
<p>I am getting nervous about putting these two schools off. We told school one we will do ED2. We won't be able to do both schools ED.</p>
<p>Are we flirting with abandonment by putting off school 1, and if we tell school 2 that we will apply early during Regular admission, is that one likely a goner?
Thanks</p>
<p>I’m going to venture a guess that yes; if you think the schools are a stretch academically, then by putting off ED, that school may well be a goner. Seems like you’re going to have to choose one or the other. On the other hand, if he isn’t 100% sold, why not…? This is important to think about too. </p>
<p>If this were my daughter, I’d tell her to choose one of the two, and that’s her top choice (it would have to really BE her top choice). Then she’d do the ED at that school and continue the search with the lesser competitive schools, early action or even RD.</p>
<p>Good luck! Let us know what you decide. We’re all in about the same place right now - I have my bottle of wine at hand while I watch As the Athletic Recruiting World Turns … :-)</p>
<p>S can apply ED I to school 2 and if he doesn’t get in or is deferred to regular admission, he’ll know by mid-December and can apply ED II to School 1. </p>
<p>If coach at School 2 is not willing to put S on his list for Admissions, S is on his own getting in and even if S applies ED and gets in, the coach is not guaranteeing him a roster spot for year 1 (or did he say he would, if he gets in?). That doesn’t mean he ultimately can’t walk on, but if coach isn’t willing to support his app, the coach probably doesn’t consider him one of his strongest athletic prospects.</p>
<p>S has to decide how important playing his sport (or at least being on the team) at college is. Even though only 2 coaches are recruiting him now, in DIII things can be pretty fluid and if he applies ED, he’ll be likely to stop trying to get the attention of other coaches who might be interested in him.</p>
<p>School 1 sounds like a great opportunity, though you say he’s not 100% sold on the school. I’m not keen on EDII. My S applied EDII to his top choice school for his sport and academics and got in. (We had held off on EDI because of financial aid concerns and his interest in seeing what all his athletic options were.) Because of the ED II 1/1 deadline and the fact that he wouldn’t hear until Feb., he had to apply to all his other schools (about 15), which meant lots of individual essays, interviews, and application costs. There were terrific schools and he liked all of them. As excited as he was when he was accepted at his EDII school, there was some regret in withdrawing all the other applications. With all that in mind, I’d recommend ED I over ED II.</p>
<p>If these are the two schools your son is most interested in, I would pursue royal73’s advice of ED1 at one school and ED2 at the other. There appear to be absolutely no guarantees in your discussions with the coaches, so the coaches “limited” support for his application is a concern. If this is your son’s best shot at a top notch school, he should go for it with everything he has. Remember, ED is binding. So be very sure when he pulls the trigger. Good luck and please let us know how it turns out.</p>
<p>Thanks, all. His number one choice is another school, Georgetown, but that coach said he would have a spot on the roster if he can get in on his own merit. Highly unlikely, and their early action program prohibits you from applying anywhere else Ed concurrently.
I think we will apply ED1 to school one and ED2 school 2.
My S also has several apps in at others, including mostly lesser schools, but with no varsity soccer, casting a wide net. But, school 1 and 2 are exceptional opportunities, which I think we need to jump on.</p>
<p>Whether my S can handle the academics is a question, but he is ready to step up, and I think he can handle it. D3 sports should be more manageable with academics.</p>
<p>It sounds like the coach’s ‘supoprt’ at the LAC is not very strong. Can you gauge how strong the support at school 1 is? None of the coaches will be able to guarantee admission (be wary if they do), but they should give you a very good idea of how likely admission is based on their past experience. Also, ask whether the coach has a certain number of slots or tips and where your son would be on that list.
Good luck!</p>