+101 Keep in mind that that the college is not the end game, Once they are in they have to keep up with all the kids that don't play sports. Not so easy any more to leverage a team connection into well paying IB or consulting jobs. They also are looking for hard skills now. The brilliant kid will manage. Under that, I might worry.

Anonymous wrote:Study, and don't rely on sports as a ticket to success.

+100
Don't rely on it as a ticket anywhere.

Young athletes don't always know if they really love the sport or if it's just the way they identify. The advice to pick the path that would work if you can't play is really wise.

One way to think about this is to look at where the non star athletes from his current school end up for college. Does the school have a good enough reputation that kids are admitted to good schools if they are not recruited for sports; and do athletes who are not superstars get recruited to D3 or slightly less competitive D1 schools? You should have realistic conversations with his coaches about his ability to get back into the sport and school counselors about where he falls in the class now.

DD#1 was recruited by an elite D1 school to play a sport this past year. Her BFF from her club team is an even more gifted athlete than DD and 1 year below (ie rising senior). The BFF got hurt summer before sophomore year and was sidelined from competition for more than a year right in the window where recruiting begins. She did PT, rehab and then lots of soul cycle to stay fit; she also focused on her schoolwork bc now sports was not her sure path. She got back to the sport as she could this past school year and is now getting back to the level she was at before the injury. While some colleges have filled their recruiting class in the meantime she is still getting recruited from top D1 colleges in the sport. There was a period before she got all the way back in the sport when she was speaking to D3 coaches.

My point is it does depends on the injury. If there is a path back and he loves his sport, he needs to be patient and dedicated. It feels like forever but if he does the PT and gets back to form there will still be time. In the mean time he should absolutely make a plan that he likes if the sport is no longer in the picture and that includes attending a school that works for him (that might be the current school but it might mean returning to the Ws).

What part is he not handling well? If he is not longer likely to be able to perform at the elite level, will the school he attends counsel him out? How rigorous are the academics at this elite sports school?

Most important, what does he think he wants to do? Does he want to attend college if he can never play again?

Anonymous wrote:Study, and don't rely on sports as a ticket to success.

You can do both. Sports can give you an edge at hyper-competitive schools. In the top SLACs great grades and test scores are definitely table stakes but being a recruit is a big advantage.

Anonymous wrote:If he was an elite D1 athlete but now is a good D3 athlete... look at NESCAC sports league (New England Small College Athletic Conference)

These are the best schools in the nation and if he can get a 30 ACT and has a 3.7 GPA they will recruit him.

If that is who he is, he probably shouldn't be at a school for gifted athletes. It will be depressing.

If he was an elite D1 athlete but now is a good D3 athlete... look at NESCAC sports league (New England Small College Athletic Conference)

These are the best schools in the nation and if he can get a 30 ACT and has a 3.7 GPA they will recruit him.

Really depends on the sport OP. Please share the sport. I can advise. My kid was recruited D1 Ivy for 2 different sports

Study, and don't rely on sports as a ticket to success.

I had a sibling who was a recruit-able level athlete (talking to top college coaches through soph & junior year) but tore his ACL senior year, and ended up in a position where he rehabbed and trained - but only to a point to have it boost his application to some schools but not at anywhere near that level -- ended up playing at and SLAC. This was a while ago of course & he was older at the time where he didn't have the time to potentially rehab more. I would really factor in how much your DS loves his sport and wants to play - if it's huge, then would work on the sport but keep expectations in check that he might end up playing in some way but not in the same elite way.

Anonymous wrote:What type of sports - helmet or non helmet

DP. You could answer for both scenarios, just label them. That is, if you have actionable suggestions.

What type of sports - helmet or non helmet

My DS is a rising sophomore. He was at a national ranking level in his sport while in middle school, due to which the coach thought that he has very high chances of getting in as an athlete recruit. He suggested that we move him from a 'W' school to a private school so that he could focus on his sports. He suffered a major injury early this year and is now unable to perform at the same level as before, though he is trying his best. His grades in school are between A and B's (he was a straight A student while in public school). Any suggestions on what he should be doing? We are now not sure if he should pursue sports (as he is spending even more hours than before) to get back with his skills. The school he is in currently is an elite sports school. My DS is not handling it well. Any suggestions from parents if you have been in a similar situation?