Hi,
Situation: 2015 son wants to use baseball as a way to get into some very selective academic schools. Over the past year, he's attended several academic baseball camps (Showball), three Ivy camps (two at same school), a Stanford and Duke camp, and a camp at one D3. He is now seeing results: this past week, three very good D3s have offered him official visits. He's obviously very excited.
Anyway, we have some specific questions and a more speculative one:
1. These schools, all D3, invited son using the phrase "official visit." This means schools will pay transportation costs, yes?
2. We/he have visited only ONE of these three schools; and one of them is in a part of the country we've never visited. Would it come across as odd (over-protective) if a parent accompanies student to the two unvisited schools? As his parents, we really want to get a sense of these schools so that we can help him make a wise choice. (Smart kid, but quality and quantity of food would be his make or break point.)
We know that we will be responsible for costs related to transportation and accommodation, and while son is doing his thing, we would be getting a sense of campus and surrounding environment.
2. If it's appropriate form for a parent to accompany student, is it also appropriate for a parent to meet the head coaches, two of whom spouse and I have never spoken to?
3. We know admissions offices do pre-reads; has anyone had experience with financial aid doing pre-reads as well? Spouse is self employed, which results in inaccurate estimates by net price calculators.
4. Here's the speculative question: son's dream school is an Ivy that is like "the most beautiful girl in the world" (son's analogy); in other words, everyone is chasing this school. Husband's research confirms that school recruits very late (unless player has near perfect SATs/ACTs); and that many of its recruits were very often unaware (at least until Aug and Sept) that they were being recruited.
(More context: son's estimated academic index AI is slightly higher than the average AI of all admitted students (not average AI of student athletes); son's baseball skills seem on-level with past years' recruits; and, after next spring, team will have only one guy who plays son's particular position.)
I guess question is this: Son has been in email correspondence with coaches over the past year, and up until June, coaches were responding to emails.Several weeks back, son called head coach and left voice mail but did not receive call back. Should non-responsiveness on part of coaches these last few weeks be regarded as lack of interest? Bottom line: when should son just write this place off, or should he already?
Thanks!
southwestprof,
Lots of good responses.I'll add my son's experiences to the mix since he was in your son's shoes this time last year.
1) My son did not go on any official visits per se. Instead,he qualified to take all expense paid trips to the colleges he visited through their diversity programs.Many of the D3 schools that were recruiting him have these and they are open to any student that meets their requirements and is selected.The coaches can and do use their influence with the program directors in the selection process.If a coach wants you on campus and you meet the requirements you're in.
At least that was my son's experience.He flew to the east coast twice from SoCal and had more trips he could have gone on,but decided against going due to his academic workload at school.He had three AP classes,Spanish 4,and two other classes.The heavy workload and the cross country traveling while fun was tiring, and each time he missed at least one day of school.
2) My son went on his trips solo.He navigated the airports and connections by himself.At the destination the schools picked him up.My son met the head coaches and toured the athletic facilities with them.They had breakfast together too.
I met his college coach for the first time earlier this week at the beginning of new student orientation.He emailed my son as soon as we arrived on campus and requested a meeting with the three of us.It was a 20 minute meeting very casual. The coach seemed like a cool dude 
It was weird since I had very little interaction my son's HS coach.
A HS teammate of my son's visited a different NESCAC school.His dad went with him and they paid their own way.The dad stayed in a hotel while the player stayed with a ball player in the dorms.They met the coach,toured the school and facilities,met with FA, watched a homecoming game on the sidelines,son went to a party,dad checked out the town.All in all a great 3 day trip for father and son.
While they were in Maine, the head coach told my son's teammate that he was his number one recruit, and if he applied ED with that designation he could just about guarantee he would be admitted.He applied ED and was admitted ! He's at first year orientation as I write this.His baseball skills opened the door to a very selective college that he would not have been admitted too otherwise.Needless to say both father and son are ecstatic
3) I found the net price calculators to be accurate.We own a small business and we entered all the information from our 2012 tax return(most recent at the time) on the calculators.The discrepancies I found had more to do with how each school handles home equity.For example, at my son's school(NESCAC need blind) they do not use the home equity in your primary residence in their calculations.A couple of schools in The Patriot League(not need blind) that were recruiting my son DID use home equity in their calculations and the difference was staggering.
4)My son was recruited by the Ivies too.At this point in time last year those schools had already made offers to players at the top of their list.My son sent one final email to each of the Ivies that he was in contact with.He asked them point blank "where do I stand in your 2014 recruiting class, and I would appreciate a candid response" They all responded right away. It was not the answer he wanted to hear but at least it was candid and he was then able to move on.I suggest your son do the same.Don't take it personally. Oftentimes it's a numbers game.One of the IVY coaches told my son in that final email that he believed he could contribute offensively right away,but they were only recruiting 5 players and 3 of them were pitchers.They had already made an offer to a guy they slotted ahead of my son.That's the way it goes.
It sounds like your son has some great options ! Good luck to him and if you need any help let me know