Congrats to your son! If you don’t mind me asking, at what point in the process did you go back and forth? During the pre-read- were you waiting on the result? Was the coach saying your son had a supported slot or did the coach predict the outcome? Just trying to look at all variables/cover all bases. Thanks in advance for sharing your son’s experience, it helps!
To the extent that standardized testing is considered, it probably makes sense that Hamilton (reported SAT middle range: 1440–1520) would look for a higher score than Bates (reported SAT middle range: 1290–1440) would.
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My son had been talking with a few coaches and in August one of his clear top choice schools came back with a positive pre read in admissions and the coach made an offer of support in admissions if he applied ED. Since it was right at the top of his list, but there were other contenders, I asked if he wanted to talk to one of the other schools and to think about if he would accept an offer if it came, but he loved the first school to offer and committed to the early application process.
He was lucky that the offer came from a school that he loved, but I could see how it could be stressful if the first offer came from a school not in the top echelon.
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Might I slightly hijack? Will do new post if need be, but you folks seem to know the score.
For lower levels of DIII (think SUNY) are the timelines around pre-reads and commitment the same, similar, as codified? Is the process different?
My D23 visited a SUNY, met with coach, toured with current players. All good. I wish I had listened to language more carefully around exact wording (did she say continue process? I can’t recall) but she did indicate our timing was right on and ask that we send transcripts and test scores. Her stats will be plenty good for the school, and I think she would absolutely go if she could play there (maybe not if she couldn’t).
Any idea where we are in the process and what next steps are? is ball in coach’s court?
I’ll add- she is now on a schedule where she send 8-10 coaches updates every 2-3 weeks, all via bcc. So they know she is talking to other coaches.
This is interesting. More experienced folks, is this a thing? Would not have crossed my mind.
The thought was that she needs to stay in the coach’s mind- so every few week, send an update on grades, test scores, game results, etc.
The bcc was really for ease- so no individual emails. But might have the added benefit of making it clear to coaches that she is communicating with a number of coach’s not just one.
The conversations with coach’s are interesting. Very much like dating. Neither wants to come out and say “I really want you”, but in reality they both might be thinking it.
Ours might be a little different from OP, because in their case, the coach doesn’t have all of the power (AO has veto). Here, SUNY are not at that academic level and their is much more leeway.
She loves this school. Her stats could get her into many other “better” schools, but prestige has zero effect on her. School has the majors she wants, and she wants to play. What about just saying it: “I think I am a great fit for you. If you give me a spot, I am coming”.
I am dreaming of a fun senior year, with school choice done and without the time suck and distraction of the admissions process.
I understand what you are saying and I think some aspect of showing that you have multiple options and instilling a bit of FOMO is appropriate, I also think the bcc could backfire a bit after a relationship is established.
Since the bcc isn’t exposing who else she is talking to, it just comes off as a bit more of a marketing blast than a bonafide reach out. At some point, the communications should be personalized conveying a sense of interest in the school, school’s soccer program and/or the coach.
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If she would get in to the SUNY anyway, then recruiting isn’t going to be as critical.
Regardless, nothing in D3 is truly certain until the decision comes back from Admissions. Only a few issue likely letters ahead of time, otherwise you are not wrapped up officially until the decision dates (Early or Regular).
My exact thoughts as well. I am thinking going forward, the coach’s she has met and spent time with should drop off of this “blast” and get something individualized. Its a great point.
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I don’t think getting admitted is the concern here. Rather knowing that if she came, there would be a spot on the team for her.
My kid was in a somewhat similar position in that, he was only looking at safety and match admissions schools bc we needed generous merit. The issue then was where he had a roster spot and was that where he wanted to go to school, and continue his sport. Depending on the competitiveness of the team in its conference, getting the roster spot can be harder than getting admitted. For instance, Messiah and Ohio Wesleyan are consistently among the top men’s soccer programs – getting a roster spot offer is much more competitive than simply being admitted to the school.
Perfectly appropriate to ask things like – where am I on your list. Do I have a roster spot if I’m admitted. Would you want an ED app so I’m committed to attending. Then, there are also questions like, is a roster spot guaranteed, or are recruits cut during pre-season training.
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great advice. Timing wise, when should a Junior be having those conversations with a DIII coach? It sounds like NESCAC can’t really act until 7/1, but what about a school like a SUNY?
I think it’s appropriate in spring of junior year to ask – where am I on your list, when do you expect to make roster spot offers, what would an offer of a roster spot mean – ED expected, spot guaranteed through 1st year?
Interpreting “coach speak” (and some of my extended family are coaches, so I understand both sides) is tricky. “You are one of my top prospects” can be meaningless, “we’d love to see you on campus” can mean, you can try to walk-on but I’ve never taken a walk-on in 20 years coaching . . .
You can ask about the process, next steps. The bumpiness happens when a student might have some value for a team, but not be a priority. Then, a coach may not want to commit a roster spot early, when there may be “better” candidates later in the process. Good luck to your daughter – sounds like she’s found the perfect school for her!
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SUNY D3 conversations, pre-reads, commitments can happen earlier than the NESCAC 7/1 timing for pre-reads and then commitments. Lots of NESCAC convos happening before then of course.
IMO I encourage your D to stop with the bcc blast emails, and start personalizing the emails. Of course the coaches know she’s talking to other schools. For the coaches your D has built a relationship with, texting may be a better option for communications, assuming the coach texts.
Good luck.
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I’d ask the coach about the timeline and when she makes decisions. Every coach is different.
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Re: the bcc’s. I think they are a bad idea. Even at the 1st contact my son always had a line in there as to why he was looking at that particular school.
Think about it. If the situation was reversed, and your daughter got a bcc communication from a coach, how interested would you think the coach was? I would think that my son was in a large pool getting that generic email.
Once your daughter knows for sure that she has a 1st choice school, and knows offers are being made, I think it’s perfectly appropriate for her to let the coach know that she would accept on the spot. Coaches want players who want to be there!
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When my dd was going through the process, she also was being recruited by non-NESCAC schools. However, she and her NESCAC coach emailed probably monthly during her junior year, and then texted as July 1 was approaching. With the non-NESCAC school that was also high on her list (not considered high-academic), they did a preread much earlier - probably late winter/early spring of junior year so that they could give her an idea of how much merit money she could get.
As far as the other high-academic schools were concerned, dd let them know when she received her offer from the NESCAC and this definitely helped her to get answers from those other schools within a week.
Great thoughts. I will act on all, especially the bcc thing, which makes perfect sense.
She has found the perfect school for her. I believe the coach requested docs to get a pre-read, so we will wait to hear back from her. Given it is #1, I will encourage D to share that when she and the coach connect. No sense in dancing. She isn’t trying to leverage anything.
i see a lot of posts here about 7/1 for the NESCAC, but if a coach gives you a verbal before then, having seen your transcripts and SAT score, can you trust it? anyone have an experience with it not coming through at this level?