<p>She should consider calling coaches at the top five schools she is interested in.</p>
<p>My son (soccer) has had much better success talking in person (he is not one for the phone) th an emails. And in one case, that’s definitely true for the Ivy that is recruiting him (so far, but the Ivy is not done with 2014s yet), because talking in person gave him a lot of great info (yes, they are recruiting his position still, yes, they are interested, but they are recruiting 2014s still).</p>
<p>The thing about emails is that they are a written record. The most my son has got via email is “come to our recruiting camp” (maybe specific to team sports). But in person, he’s gotten much better info, as others have said about phone calls.</p>
<p>I would also agree that unofficial visits are a good idea, to show interest in the school and perhaps meet with the coach or athletic staff.</p>
<p>Schools are finalizing their class of 2014 recruiting right now. I think that explains why the interest seems to have died down right now for some of the junior athletes. That didn’t occur to me until one school emailed my son that they would be back in touch after their 2014 incoming class was finalized. </p>
<p>As others have pointed out unofficial visits are a great way to get a feel for the program outside of a controlled recruiting environment. They can be a great way to learn more about schools in a lower pressure environment. Although the official visits are essential, some athletes will make a better impression during a less formal environment. An athlete who is quiet or shy may not present themselves as well during an OV where other swimmers are outwardly more confident or where the entire team appears to be focused on getting the top couple of recruits to commit. </p>
<p>On the other hand, coaches recruit on athletic achievement and ability and I don’t remember a single instance where a top athlete get rejected because they are too modest or shy. On the other hand, I know many athletes who were shunned because either they or their parents never learned the niceties of how to work and play well with others. </p>
<p>LivesinHobbiton brought up a great point about coaches with unrealistic expectations. Some coaches spend most of their time recruiting athletes who are unlikely to attend their schools and miss out on other more realistic prospects. While a few high profile recruits can make a program, these coaches forget that they need to focus on athletes that might actually accept an offer as well. Interestingly, some athletes realize more quickly than their coaches that the top athlete that they are hosting is more likely to accept a full scholarship at a national championship team than a full pay program at a better academic institution.</p>
<p>We found the coaches to be very realistic, sometimes not recruiting our kids because they were national level players, who they assumed (correctly) were being recruited by big programs. The coaches at the smaller programs are well aware that they struggle to compete with the big schools that regularly compete in NCAA championships, and therefore while they may initiate contact with the top recruits, most gave up after it became clear that there was no way they were truly in the running. Coaches have limited time and recruiting budgets, and chasing the number 1 recruit when you are not a top 5 or 10 program is usually not the way things pan out. YMMV, but this is our experience over the past 8 years in a DI non-revenue sport.</p>
<p>My junior daughter wrote to 7 or 8 D3 coaches and filled out the recruiting forms, all before having her test scores. She is not as fast as your daughter and does not want the D1 committment. A few coaches did not get back to her. In one case, she ended up writing to an assistant coach, since it was a school that was high on her list academically and clearly needed her stroke and times. She visited a few weeks ago and found out the head coach left the school. So, there was a good reason she didn’t hear back. Another coach who didn’t respond is likely trying to recruit faster swimmers. </p>
<p>The only coaches who have written to her without her writing first were not from schools she was interested in, and the swim teams were not a good fit for her. She had to be proactive in seeking out the schools she wanted. Once she did that, she received a very enthusiastic response from most of the coaches. These coaches might not have sought her out on their own, but once they looked at her stats, they were happy to meet her. She has written across different leagues (UAA, Liberty, NEWMAC, NESCAC). There are some very fast D3 schools out there that are honestly too fast and probably too serious for my daughter. </p>
<p>She has visited 4 schools and coaches so far. One coach was very laid back, which is good to know. Other coaches were more active in the process. It really varies, and it helped tremendously to meet the coaches, ask questions, and get a feel for the team culture. One school she ended up liking (both the school and the coach) much more than she expected. It was a school she wrote to grudgingly, which is why casting the wide net is important. You never know what gem will turn up.</p>
<p>I understand D1 and D3 recruiting are much different. I also understand recruiting within the Ivy’s varies quite a bit. If you are only looking for merit aid, consider D3 schools, Look at the results from D3 Nationals. It’s a pretty fast meet with some excellent schools at the top, and swimmers with winter nationals cut times.</p>
<p>And I agree on the importance of relays. My daughter is a 200 back and breast swimmer. But, she also listed her 50 breast split in her email. One of the coaches said he is just as excited about that time as the 200 time, because of how much it helps their relay. </p>
<p>One more comment. We have a friend whose daughter was a national level swimmer (went to Olympic Trials). She was heavily recruited by Big10 and a few SEC schools. It was interesting to watch. Florida loved her, until they didn’t. They signed someone just a bit faster. The whole thing was a pretty harrowing experience for them. </p>
<p>One note of caution to all who are in this harrowing experience (great descriptor, VMT). MY D was certain she would continue on with her sport post college (sr team, Olympic hopeful), so she wrote off any programs that were less serious even though that meant crossing some fantastic schools (HPY) off the list. Now that she is almost done, she is NOT continuing on, and she has some serious regrets about how much she sacrificed to be on this team. No study abroad, no spring breaks, huge training commitments, less time to study… She wishes she had really considered some of the “lesser” athletic programs at a D3/Ivy. The life of a D1 athlete is not for everyone.</p>
<p>Well said shellz. I do know quite a few swimmers who go to D1 schools and end up leaving for D3 programs. One really needs to understand it is a job - and a tough one at that. It can also be very rewarding. </p>
<p>Like most college applicants, almost every serious recruit faces similar challenges. There are some schools where the entire process could end with an acceptance shortly after they say yes to an offer. Other schools are probably out of reach but worth the effort to pursue. The toughest part of the process is when the athlete and school are a good fit but each side of the equation is hoping for something a little bit better. </p>
<p>Although Princeton has a couple more LLs, most IVY swim teams have about six or seven spots to offer swimmers and divers. For the top few recruits; it is, as Varska said, a buyer’s market. For those ranked between number five and ten on the list, the uncertainty can be excruciating. Although some of the recruits ranked higher than you will drop off the list, you don’t know how it will end until the process ends. </p>
<p>Some years there will be a few very top recruits who receive offers but end up going with a school capable of winning a national championship. Others who might have picked an IVY, but have serious academic deficiencies, won’t get past admissions. Even if you could be fairly certain that these athletes won’t be attending your top choice, and you can’t, it is a huge risk holding out for an uncertain spot while others are accepting offers at your 2nd choice. I’ve watched schools lose recruits who would have made an impact as a freshman while waiting on a top recruit to decide and I’ve seen athletes miss out on opportunities waiting on a spot to open up “IF” someone else declines an outstanding offer.</p>
<p>Since the final part of IVY swimming recruiting occurs during the start of senior year, it is hard not to worry about what happens when the music stops. If you don’t accept the early offer from a 2nd or 3rd choice will you be left competing for admissions with the rest of the applicant pool which probably has much more compelling ECs. Although it must hurt for a coach to miss out on a recruit, it can’t compare to what happens to an athlete that is left without a spot because they mistakenly believe it would all work out.</p>
<p>We found the coaches that recruited my children to be open and honest, which made the process easier. In the cases where my children might have waited on someone else to make a decision, the coaches were clear about where they stood. In the end, each child ended up at their first or second choice. </p>
<p>IVY swim teams have less meets than a lot of D1 or D3 teams. It is a lot less stressful having a half-dozen dual meets a year, only a few of which are away, than having to be on the road more regularly. Because most IVY teams are relatively close to each other, travel time for away meets is less of a burden than in some conferences. </p>
<p>“Even if you could be fairly certain that these athletes won’t be attending your top choice, and you can’t, it is a huge risk holding out for an uncertain spot while others are accepting offers at your 2nd choice. I’ve watched schools lose recruits who would have made an impact as a freshman while waiting on a top recruit to decide and I’ve seen athletes miss out on opportunities waiting on a spot to open up “IF” someone else declines an outstanding offer”</p>
<p>This is how the process seems to be unfolding for us. My athletic student does not want to ‘wait’ on uncertain D3 responses - so is going with the preread at a school that would certainly provide good academics and good athletics and where fit exists. Although the athlete initially wanted the most competitive team possible, contribution at a high level where you are wanted seems the better overall choice. </p>
<p>Agree 100%. If you look at top mens D1 soccer programs, yes they are recruiting 2015s, but the vast majority do not have full 2015 classes. And the D3 soccer programs are waiting until end of June to talk to 2015 grads.</p>
<p>I don’t blame the D3 coaches, if the D1 schools pan out, my son will likely go to D1. He wouldn’t be unhappy at his top D3 school, but he wouldn’t tell them tomorrow (or even August 1st) that he would commit unless all four of his D1 schools suddenly say thanks but no thanks. Which granted is possible, but with at least two of the four D1 schools heavily recruiting 2015s still (not sure of the other two), I doubt they would sever ties.</p>
<p>I agree also that “harrowing” is the word for it. </p>