Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

Basically, everyone knows in advance - but it can be unwise to go fully public (like posting on a high school college commitment site) because things can happen. Only at the Likely Letter stage has an admissions officer said "yes." Even then, technically something could happen. But, at that point, the "yes" is based on an actual application. So, athletes are advised to wait until decisions are released, for everyone.

Even at elite academic schools like Williams, Chicago or MIT?

As I understand things, Williams and Chicago would be a yes, MIT would be a no. MIT is known for being a bit more pure in this way - have heard the same about CalTech, although my athlete did not interact with them so I can't say for sure (they did have contact with a lot of NE schools, including MIT, as well as Chicago). Ended up at an Ivy.

MIT cares far more about sports then CalTech, but they are upfront to recruits. They will tell say 6 basketball recruits that they are supporting all 6 but in any given year, usually 4 get accepted. All 6 are strong basketball players, so they are fine with the two they lose...but it's not 100%.

CalTech famously hasn't won a conference men's basketball game in like over 10 years and usually at best only wins 1 game overall. MIT was the 2024-2025 D3 national champion for Women's Track & Field, Women's XCountry and Women's Swimming and Diving, and is competitive across all D3 sports.

Yep = I'm the PP, and this is a good explanation. Again, my child did not talk to CalTech, but they heard from peer athletes that it's like MIT. This sounds like it might be even more so. This works because MIT doesn't have ED. So those 6 theoretical basketball players can all apply other places too. I think CalTech has REA, so that is a little trickier, but people can still apply to publics early, including the full UC system. So recruited athletes at these schools are likely not applying to only one school, or if they are, they should do so fully aware that they might have to send out RD apps if they don't get in.

I guess though I distinguish the two schools in that MIT will accept a strong basketball player that only has top grades/scores and nothing else, over a worse basketball player that may also have won Math competitions or published research...while CalTech will pick a kid that has won the Math competitions and has all the accolades and by the way, kind of knows how to play basketball.

The MIT basketball coach would be fired if they had even one season where they went 1-24...while the CalTech basketball team never wins more than 1 game on average and again, hasn't won a conference game since 2011.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Our son committed to his D1 school in February of his junior year. We asked the coach if he was guaranteed admission. The one word answer was “yes.” Our son went through the motions and filled out the application. He was admitted.

Did he say yes, before he saw his transcript?

He sent them his grades. They weren’t worried. They had his PSAT as well. They had 10+ conversations on Zoom. There were no mysteries.

Yea coaches can scan grades and know if it will go through admissions.

I'd like to point out to people who think "athletes have it easier"... this student (as an example) had 10+ interviews with the coaches over Zoom (and most student do this with multiple coaches), in addition to performing in front of them, creating highlight tapes (usually), sending emails, getting rejections, traveling distances to be at tournaments the coaches attend, etc.

So it's nice to know early but it's not "easier".

Oh my goodness. Of course it’s easier. It’s an entirely different and special application process. Recruited athlete is the biggest admissions hook.

Sure, the application process is "easier" once an athlete has coach support. However, as PP pointed out, securing that coach support is far from easy and requires a significant time commitment from both the athlete and their family well beyond simply playing and training for the sport itself. I have a junior who is a solid but not top-tier D1 recruit, and I can assure you that the process demands substantial time and effort. This will likely continue until they hopefully commit to a school and sign an offer on National Signing Day, potentially sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son committed to his D1 school in February of his junior year. We asked the coach if he was guaranteed admission. The one word answer was “yes.” Our son went through the motions and filled out the application. He was admitted.

Did he say yes, before he saw his transcript?

He sent them his grades. They weren’t worried. They had his PSAT as well. They had 10+ conversations on Zoom. There were no mysteries.

Yea coaches can scan grades and know if it will go through admissions.

I'd like to point out to people who think "athletes have it easier"... this student (as an example) had 10+ interviews with the coaches over Zoom (and most student do this with multiple coaches), in addition to performing in front of them, creating highlight tapes (usually), sending emails, getting rejections, traveling distances to be at tournaments the coaches attend, etc.

So it's nice to know early but it's not "easier".

Oh my goodness. Of course it’s easier. It’s an entirely different and special application process. Recruited athlete is the biggest admissions hook.

Yes it is. The only ones not willing to admit it's easier are the recipients of this "biggest admission hook' themselves or their parents.

An advantage is an advantage. Getting an admission hook or advantage is not a hardship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

Basically, everyone knows in advance - but it can be unwise to go fully public (like posting on a high school college commitment site) because things can happen. Only at the Likely Letter stage has an admissions officer said "yes." Even then, technically something could happen. But, at that point, the "yes" is based on an actual application. So, athletes are advised to wait until decisions are released, for everyone.

Even at elite academic schools like Williams, Chicago or MIT?

As I understand things, Williams and Chicago would be a yes, MIT would be a no. MIT is known for being a bit more pure in this way - have heard the same about CalTech, although my athlete did not interact with them so I can't say for sure (they did have contact with a lot of NE schools, including MIT, as well as Chicago). Ended up at an Ivy.

MIT cares far more about sports then CalTech, but they are upfront to recruits. They will tell say 6 basketball recruits that they are supporting all 6 but in any given year, usually 4 get accepted. All 6 are strong basketball players, so they are fine with the two they lose...but it's not 100%.

CalTech famously hasn't won a conference men's basketball game in like over 10 years and usually at best only wins 1 game overall. MIT was the 2024-2025 D3 national champion for Women's Track & Field, Women's XCountry and Women's Swimming and Diving, and is competitive across all D3 sports.

Yep = I'm the PP, and this is a good explanation. Again, my child did not talk to CalTech, but they heard from peer athletes that it's like MIT. This sounds like it might be even more so. This works because MIT doesn't have ED. So those 6 theoretical basketball players can all apply other places too. I think CalTech has REA, so that is a little trickier, but people can still apply to publics early, including the full UC system. So recruited athletes at these schools are likely not applying to only one school, or if they are, they should do so fully aware that they might have to send out RD apps if they don't get in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son committed to his D1 school in February of his junior year. We asked the coach if he was guaranteed admission. The one word answer was “yes.” Our son went through the motions and filled out the application. He was admitted.

Did he say yes, before he saw his transcript?

He sent them his grades. They weren’t worried. They had his PSAT as well. They had 10+ conversations on Zoom. There were no mysteries.

Yea coaches can scan grades and know if it will go through admissions.

I'd like to point out to people who think "athletes have it easier"... this student (as an example) had 10+ interviews with the coaches over Zoom (and most student do this with multiple coaches), in addition to performing in front of them, creating highlight tapes (usually), sending emails, getting rejections, traveling distances to be at tournaments the coaches attend, etc.

So it's nice to know early but it's not "easier".

Oh my goodness. Of course it’s easier. It’s an entirely different and special application process. Recruited athlete is the biggest admissions hook.

It’s much harder, you have to good enough on two vectors. But if you are the results are great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son committed to his D1 school in February of his junior year. We asked the coach if he was guaranteed admission. The one word answer was “yes.” Our son went through the motions and filled out the application. He was admitted.

Did he say yes, before he saw his transcript?

He sent them his grades. They weren’t worried. They had his PSAT as well. They had 10+ conversations on Zoom. There were no mysteries.

Yea coaches can scan grades and know if it will go through admissions.

I'd like to point out to people who think "athletes have it easier"... this student (as an example) had 10+ interviews with the coaches over Zoom (and most student do this with multiple coaches), in addition to performing in front of them, creating highlight tapes (usually), sending emails, getting rejections, traveling distances to be at tournaments the coaches attend, etc.

So it's nice to know early but it's not "easier".

Oh my goodness. Of course it’s easier. It’s an entirely different and special application process. Recruited athlete is the biggest admissions hook.

Sure, the mechanics of the application process are easier, often because an athlete is sometimes applying to only one place. So fall of senior year is easier than it is for all other students applying EA or ED. But, the year before that is not easier. There is still the building of a list. There are tons of emails, calls and official visits - the visits are especially tricky because the athlete has to miss days of school during junior year when grades matter so much. There are also disappointments/rejections along the way, they're just not all centralized in a short period the way they are for non-athletes. In terms of hours, the athletes put in a LOT of time junior year and for D3, maybe into senior year too. But sure, filling in the Common App and hitting submit is easier, and perhaps you could argue they don't have to agonize over essays, etc. as much (although my athlete still did, just for only one school). They do still have to get LOR and navigate getting their transcripts sent, etc. The process might seem easier when you're the parent of a first-semester senior. But in reality, the process is just elongated - by fall of senior year, they're at the end of a year-long process, while non-athletes are starting it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

Basically, everyone knows in advance - but it can be unwise to go fully public (like posting on a high school college commitment site) because things can happen. Only at the Likely Letter stage has an admissions officer said "yes." Even then, technically something could happen. But, at that point, the "yes" is based on an actual application. So, athletes are advised to wait until decisions are released, for everyone.

Even at elite academic schools like Williams, Chicago or MIT?

Not MIT, pretty much everywhere else you know.

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

No, those students are “committing to the admissions process”. But a positive pre-read is pretty much a guarantee at most schools.

Anonymous wrote:Division, one athletes have to sign a document that is legally binding for one year. That’s what signing day is.

Signing day can come in before acceptance letters.

Not anymore. That disappeared with the settlement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

Basically, everyone knows in advance - but it can be unwise to go fully public (like posting on a high school college commitment site) because things can happen. Only at the Likely Letter stage has an admissions officer said "yes." Even then, technically something could happen. But, at that point, the "yes" is based on an actual application. So, athletes are advised to wait until decisions are released, for everyone.

Even at elite academic schools like Williams, Chicago or MIT?

As I understand things, Williams and Chicago would be a yes, MIT would be a no. MIT is known for being a bit more pure in this way - have heard the same about CalTech, although my athlete did not interact with them so I can't say for sure (they did have contact with a lot of NE schools, including MIT, as well as Chicago). Ended up at an Ivy.

MIT cares far more about sports then CalTech, but they are upfront to recruits. They will tell say 6 basketball recruits that they are supporting all 6 but in any given year, usually 4 get accepted. All 6 are strong basketball players, so they are fine with the two they lose...but it's not 100%.

CalTech famously hasn't won a conference men's basketball game in like over 10 years and usually at best only wins 1 game overall. MIT was the 2024-2025 D3 national champion for Women's Track & Field, Women's XCountry and Women's Swimming and Diving, and is competitive across all D3 sports.

Anonymous wrote:We have a friend whose child is a jr this year. They knew last spring where the child is going to college. Child is an athlete (not football or basketball). It’s easier and earlier.

Agree with all this but depending on the sport, the amount of time and energy involved may be more than most other applicants spend on EC's.

We have a friend whose child is a jr this year. They knew last spring where the child is going to college. Child is an athlete (not football or basketball). It’s easier and earlier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son committed to his D1 school in February of his junior year. We asked the coach if he was guaranteed admission. The one word answer was “yes.” Our son went through the motions and filled out the application. He was admitted.

Did he say yes, before he saw his transcript?

He sent them his grades. They weren’t worried. They had his PSAT as well. They had 10+ conversations on Zoom. There were no mysteries.

Yea coaches can scan grades and know if it will go through admissions.

I'd like to point out to people who think "athletes have it easier"... this student (as an example) had 10+ interviews with the coaches over Zoom (and most student do this with multiple coaches), in addition to performing in front of them, creating highlight tapes (usually), sending emails, getting rejections, traveling distances to be at tournaments the coaches attend, etc.

So it's nice to know early but it's not "easier".

Oh my goodness. Of course it’s easier. It’s an entirely different and special application process. Recruited athlete is the biggest admissions hook.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high academic D3's? Do coaches know in advance?

Basically, everyone knows in advance - but it can be unwise to go fully public (like posting on a high school college commitment site) because things can happen. Only at the Likely Letter stage has an admissions officer said "yes." Even then, technically something could happen. But, at that point, the "yes" is based on an actual application. So, athletes are advised to wait until decisions are released, for everyone.

Even at elite academic schools like Williams, Chicago or MIT?

As I understand things, Williams and Chicago would be a yes, MIT would be a no. MIT is known for being a bit more pure in this way - have heard the same about CalTech, although my athlete did not interact with them so I can't say for sure (they did have contact with a lot of NE schools, including MIT, as well as Chicago). Ended up at an Ivy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just never know until ED decisions come out for D3. Look at what Wesleyan did a couple of years ago to some of the athletes.

I'm not familiar. What happened with Wesleyan?

D3 coaches don't have as much pull as they say they do. I would trust a D1 coach that says "you're in" however.

Here's a thread from 2022 about Wesleyan:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1037119.page

I'm sure this happens more often in other D3 schools too.