I’m hoping maybe that coach will send info. to admissions sooner and she may hear back July 1 or shortly thereafter, but that may be wishful thinking with that number of pre-reads…
Totally agree with @Mwfan1921 's assessment. Sounds as positive as can be!
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@Crosbylane, let’s try to translate the coach-speak into a common denominator of language. Let’s start with the 31 ACT. This is a fine score, but it sounds like it is points below the 34 ACT this school is looking for. Given that the coach thinks this score is strong enough for admission without a retake of the ACT, I do believe that the coach is intending to “slot” your D. My view that the coach is going to use a slot is bolstered by the coach’s separate description of “support” and “offer.” I think the coach is saying that they support the slots and offer tips.
So this is good for your D. Remember though, the slot is given to the team, not to any given player. It means that the team can dip down below admission standards for - say - two recruits a year. That doesn’t mean that any athlete slotted by the coach will be admitted. A “green light” pre-read is still necessary. It does mean that a slight dimple in the academic background of the recruit should not be an impediment to admission (in your D’s case, the 31 ACT).
I do believe that this is a very positive sign. But, rightly, you still have concerns, and I do not blame you. It’s a tough time - in the future, try to remember the fun parts of it (yes, I promise some of this will seem fun in retrospect). To further allay your concerns of some change in coach plans, you could have your D ask some other questions, perhaps at the time of the OV. I would ask something to the effect of “I understand that the pre-reads are not submitted until July 1, but should I continue the recruiting process at other schools? I have a number of schools that are recruiting me, and I don’t want to lose out if things don’t work out here.” I strongly suspect that you will receive very encouraging words from this conversation.
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Everything you described sounds very familiar. Son was recruited a couple of years ago by NESCAC school. He also had a 31 ACT score. Coach also told him before the Pre-read that 31 was good enough. I was surprised. Son did end up retaking ACT to get 34. In July of that year, he submitted transcript, school profile,…etc. Took about 1 week to 10 days to get Pre-read result. Son was offered, but ended up going somewhere else outside NESCAC.
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Thanks! That last question you mentioned is a great suggestion! I actually wish we had thought for her to ask that when the coach asked where else she is going through the recruiting process (insinuating she is concerned how soon she might get an offer elsewhere). Is that an appropriate question to ask in a follow up email, or best left to ask in person or on the phone?
She is re-taking ACT in June to see if she can get it higher, but coach didn’t seem at all concerned with a 31 given her grades, rigor, etc., which is a relief.
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@Crosbylane, the propriety depends on the nature of the relationship your D has with the coach. If there is a lot of email communication, it could be done by email. Remember, whatever D says in an email is in writing and thus will be memorialized. On the other hand, the coach’s response will be memorialized as well (if that makes any difference). We did like to get the fact of support in writing from the coach.
My only suggestion is not to ask right now. Wait a short bit and it will seem more organic.
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Good advice above. It certainly sounds good. Of course, you never know if someone unexpected may fall from an Ivy and bump your D from “offer” to “support”, in which case those extra few points would be handy. Honestly that isn’t likely, but I always tried to cover all bases that I could.
But my take would be at this point she is getting one of the coveted slots, and my guess is that if her other materials are in line with the 31 that she is high enough for most schools on most teams at that level. I think those kids are more of a minimum standard that needs to be met, and she should be there. If the 31 is the concern, that is the easiest part for the coach to know. There are probably at least soft cut offs, if not hard ones, that he is very aware of (maybe 34 for tip, 29 or 30 for slot, probably varies a bit from school to school and sport to sport). Point being if he isn’t worried you probably don’t need to be either.
But as always, keep other irons in the fire. If S had gotten a suprise rejection in December, I’m pretty confident that he could pick up the phone and in 15 minutes have another offer, either a selective admission support in RD or money at another program. Partly because he had worked himself into a pretty recruitable position, but also because he was still very friendly with a handful of other coaches even post offer, and told them that they were on the very short list if things fell through.
I will stress though that when she commits that she needs to let the others know. Trying to be coy or misleading about her status is a good way to get dropped from both teams. College sports is a very small world. They all know each other, even the out of conference or division coaches. Not that I think your D would do that, but just a warning. Most people don’t realize how small that universe is. The coaches you think probably don’t know each other, or who probably hate each other, end up showing up in each other’s wedding pictures on a regular basis.
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This here is extremely important! The first thing dd was told to do after she talked with her club coach about verbally committing to her NESCAC school was to call up (not email or text) the other coaches she had formed a recruiting relationship with to let them know. These coaches will totally appreciate the transparency so that they can move on to other prospects on their list.
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Thanks, all of your points are noted! She is very excited but not “counting” on anything. She has several other visits lined up in the next month or two to keep as many options open as possible. She has a visit to her other top choice next weekend and then will follow up with a phone call to ask the same questions she asked the other coach yesterday.
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Yes, for sure. She will be sure to do that when that time comes!
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If you haven’t already, now is the time to start talking with your daughter’s high school college counselor about the pre-read process and likely application timing. We noticed that few high school college counselors are familiar with the process and accelerated pace that high-academic college recruits have to follow. It will decrease your stress if you can work with them now to ensure updated transcripts and the school profile will be available before coaches need them. Also, it isn’t too early for her to talk to the folks that will provide letters of recommendation so that her applications can be completed as early as possible.
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Very exciting times! Best wishes to her! I know how excited dd was when she received her call (and offer) in July after her junior year. All those years of hard work (both academic and athletic) paying off makes it all worth while!
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Thanks! Still have a little bit to go, but we’re getting there! 
I love this. Honest, but polite flexing that other non-NESCAC schools are recruiting her.
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This is what got S an early offer. I didn’t say it exactly like this, and I didn’t really intentionally try to force his hand. But I think I said enough things to give him enough concern that he wanted to be able to shake hands with my son, look each other in the eye, and say the process was over for both of us. That would let him move on down his list without worrying about having to fill that spot. My son was in the fortunate position of filling a lineup hole for them, which probably got him recruited a bit over his objective value.
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I wish NESCACs could commit before July 1! When the coach asked her if she was talking to schools outside of NESCAC as well and DD said yes, coach expressed that she wishes NESCACs could commit/do formal pre-read sooner as well…
The NESCAC will not do pre-reads before July 1, but I’m sure many coaches make offers of full support and many students consider themselves committed. They don’t have an admissions offer, but neither do all the kids at D1 and D2 schools who ‘commit’ as sophomores and juniors. NESCAC kids wouldn’t know the financial situation, but some don’t care as they know they are either full pay or full financial need.
In the olden days, kids used to commit to lacrosse teams as freshmen and sophomores. The sport now requires junior status (but gee, many juniors are ‘committed’ on Sept 1, so you know they were talking all along) and those on the committed lists include NESCAC schools. Will some go to other schools? Sure, but those committing to Middlebury and Amherst usually end up at those schools. The coaches know who they can get in based on years of experience with grades, scores and feeder schools.
Hamilton was the one that we went back and forth with for a long time. While waiting for AO to definitively give an answer, Bates swooped in and welcomed my son and he will be attending there in the fall and we feel confident it is the best fit for him and are thrilled.
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I concur. The moment my son committed, he contacted all other coaches to let them know his decision, then thank them for all their support and wished them best of luck with their season!
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