D3 High Academic/Ivy Recruiting Timetable

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Mar 3, 2016
47
0
Hi Folks!
Anyone with D3 high academic/Ivy timetable advise? DD has the test scores, grades and has visited several schools, mostly playing at camps. She's a Junior. She can probably get into all these schools, but really wants to go where she can play ball.

She has 5 top prospects-an Ivy and 4 other schools from the NESCAC and NEWMAC conferences, most of the coaches have seen her play either at Headfirst and Pennsbury, or at their school's camp, or both.
She is definitely getting some personal e-mails but they are pretty general and it's hard to know how many girls are getting them. Her top coaches have all said" keep in touch" but when asked where she stands, answer is " I don't have my list yet, keep in touch". Obviously she's not the top recruit, but does that mean she's not really in the running?

It seems some of these coaches are "done" recruiting this summer for 2018 in terms of "pre-reads" and "verbals". So if that is the case, is there no unofficial visit? My DD would like to meet the teammates before making a decision, is this done by requesting a visit this spring, or do girls decide without meeting the other teammates? Or does everyone except genuine phenoms pretty much wait til Fall of senior year at this type of school?

Also we haven't gotten our travel coach involved, but if there are 5 schools she is very interested in, does she go after all 5, or wait til she has more personal clarity?

Thanks for the help and insight.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
Hi Folks!
Anyone with D3 high academic/Ivy timetable advise? DD has the test scores, grades and has visited several schools, mostly playing at camps. She's a Junior. She can probably get into all these schools, but really wants to go where she can play ball.

She has 5 top prospects-an Ivy and 4 other schools from the NESCAC and NEWMAC conferences, most of the coaches have seen her play either at Headfirst and Pennsbury, or at their school's camp, or both.
She is definitely getting some personal e-mails but they are pretty general and it's hard to know how many girls are getting them. Her top coaches have all said" keep in touch" but when asked where she stands, answer is " I don't have my list yet, keep in touch". Obviously she's not the top recruit, but does that mean she's not really in the running?

It seems some of these coaches are "done" recruiting this summer for 2018 in terms of "pre-reads" and "verbals". So if that is the case, is there no unofficial visit? My DD would like to meet the teammates before making a decision, is this done by requesting a visit this spring, or do girls decide without meeting the other teammates? Or does everyone except genuine phenoms pretty much wait til Fall of senior year at this type of school?

Also we haven't gotten our travel coach involved, but if there are 5 schools she is very interested in, does she go after all 5, or wait til she has more personal clarity?

Thanks for the help and insight.

Your DD may be the exception, but Ivy and NESCAC admissions is extremely competitive and the majority of applicants with grades/scores in the 25th-75th percentile range (and even some w/ perfect SAT scores) are NOT accepted. Softball can be a difference maker, but given this, I wouldn't reduce the number of schools at this time, but would make sure the list includes a safety school or two just in case.

Relative to the schools of current interest, if its possible, watch these teams play this spring (preferably in person, but livestreamed games are better than nothing), IMO you and your DD likely are better positioned to assess her abilities, assuming you can do it objectively, relative to the team/returning players (study the rosters) and project her chances of playing time than the coach, who will not know your DD as well. Keep emailing updates and expressions of interest as it sounds you have been doing. I would expect that the closer to/further into senior year, the better the SB coaches will know what they are looking for and can clarify where your DD stands. This summer, do camps at her top prospects. Come fall of Sr. year, schedule campus visits, admissions interviews and SB coach meetings/unofficial visits with all the schools. If there's a several clear favorites, ask the SB coach about an overnight to better get to know the program/potential future teammates - ideally allowing a weekend for each visit. If there is a clear favorite, discuss an Early Decision application. If financial aid is going to play heavily into the selection equation, you may have to wait until regular admissions notification dates in March of Senior year spring.

As you've already initiated contact, I don't see a need or benefit to involving your TB coach unless he has a relationship or history with any of the schools your DD is interested in.
Although D3 allows schools to offer/prospective students to take an unlimited number of official visits, most D3 SB programs don't have the budget to offer them. It never hurts to ask, but I am not aware that any of the NESCAC schools offer official visits; however, that doesn't mean that they don't.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!
 
Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
It will happen this summer. All the Ivy's and D3 schools will start making offers between Jr and Sr year. She will be invited to visit the school and sleep over with some teammates in the fall. Even go to class. IF she can narrow it to one she can apply Early Decision and know by December. If she gets a pre-read as most high academic schools do, you will have a pretty good idea if she meets academics and what her chances are of getting in.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
I can echo all that has been said above. With very high academic schools in particular, getting an early academic read is beneficial if the school offers one. Typically need to have grades through Junior year plus test scores, so will need to wait until summer for that.

Overnights are huge. As Greenmonsters said, "official" visits paid for by the school are very very rare at DIII (they'll take care of your food on campus, but that's about it). For my daughter, who is a senior and just finalized her DIII commitment, overnights were critical in helping her get a good feel for the school, the team, etc. Schools she thought were high on her list dropped off after the overnight. Talk to the coach early about an arranging an overnight opportunity in winter of Junior year or fall of Senior year...maybe in conjunction with a camp and preferably one that allows her to attend a class or two on a Friday or Monday.

Since DIII schools can't offer athletic money, coaches often don't really know how their recruit class will shape up until they know who has actually enrolled. That said, all know who their top target recruits are. Your daughter can be very upfront and ask the coach where she stands as a recruit. In our experience, coaches will be honest with you, whether it's "I definitely want you here and see you making an immediate impact" or something less promising.
 

Me_and_my_big_mouth

witty softball quote
Sep 11, 2014
437
18
Pacific NW
DD is talking with Ivies and high academic schools, too. She's a sophomore. They've been vocal about wanting her to come to camps, campus visit, etc - but there's no point in doing that yet until she gets SAT/ACT baseline. She just took her first SAT and will take ACT next month. If her scores aren't where she feels they should be (and we're really leaving this up to her) then she'll pursue other avenues. She is grinding hard at school and pushing herself, but those exams really are the equalizer that will help her decide a direction.

Will keep an eye on this thread - thanks for the valuable input, all.
 
Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
I've seen Ivy coaches in other sports refer to the "three legged stool" for recruiting. The kid MUST be outstanding in all three:

Grades,
SAT/ACT scores
Athletic accomplishments.
 

Me_and_my_big_mouth

witty softball quote
Sep 11, 2014
437
18
Pacific NW
I've seen Ivy coaches in other sports refer to the "three legged stool" for recruiting. The kid MUST be outstanding in all three:

Grades,
SAT/ACT scores
Athletic accomplishments.
Yep, heard the stool talk, too. And not only good grades - but AP classes. That's where DD is conflicted right now. She's planning next year's schedule and trying to decide if she should continue the AP grind with courses that are difficult for her, or just stick to selective AP in her chosen comfort areas and slide back down into standard courses for her more difficult subjects. The SAT and ACT will hopefully provide some significant insights into where she should be focusing her efforts.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
High academic schools are usually the last ones to recruit because their admissions office require transcripts and extracurricular activities. I would recommend staying in touch with the coaches of your DD's top-5 and attend their camps if possible. This summer (after her junior year) you should see a sharp increase in their level of interest if your DD has the academics and softball abilities they are looking for.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
They've been vocal about wanting her to come to camps, campus visit, etc - but there's no point in doing that yet until she gets SAT/ACT baseline. She just took her first SAT and will take ACT next month. If her scores aren't where she feels they should be (and we're really leaving this up to her) then she'll pursue other avenues. She is grinding hard at school and pushing herself, but those exams really are the equalizer that will help her decide a direction.
Don't overrate the value of the SAT/ACT - many high level schools are making these optional. ( I just re-read your post- shes a Sophmore and has taken one SAT already and is taking an ACT next month? that seems a bit unusual, but it's so early her scores will only go up with experience)
Also, most coaches consider a camp to be the best recruiting tool out there. on the other hand, if they are not telling you directly but are addressing invitations/notifications of upcoming camps directly to her, that is not the same thing. If they are telling you directly, then by all means at LEAST visit the school(s) if you can. show some interest.

sophomore at camp has less pressure on her than a Junior and good experience. Camps are good, I wish DD could have attended some but the timing was always bad. Maybe this summer.
 
Last edited:
Feb 15, 2016
273
18
DD is talking with Ivies and high academic schools, too. She's a sophomore. They've been vocal about wanting her to come to camps, campus visit, etc - but there's no point in doing that yet until she gets SAT/ACT baseline. She just took her first SAT and will take ACT next month. If her scores aren't where she feels they should be (and we're really leaving this up to her) then she'll pursue other avenues. She is grinding hard at school and pushing herself, but those exams really are the equalizer that will help her decide a direction.

Will keep an eye on this thread - thanks for the valuable input, all.

If there are 2-3 schools that she knows she is interested in and she has a decent chance of getting into, I would suggest that she go to those camps. Nothing tells a coach, "I am interested in your school!" like going to their camp. These coaches have hundreds of girls emailing them, sending them videos, letting them know what tourneys they are playing in, etc... Blah blah blah. Half the battle for them is sifting through all the spam and trying to figure out who is truly interested in their school. For the high academic schools, they then have battle #2 of figuring out who can actualy get into their school and who gets enough academic aid that they can afford to go there.

If she goes now, they will see that she is interested. If she gets the scores she needs, she can go again next year and be a known quantity. Having been at many camps, I believe it makes a difference when the coaches are calling your DD by her name and your DD is very comfortable in the environment. It helps most girls perform better.
 

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