I just want to mention again that one thing some D3 coaches can offer is help with admissions at academic reach schools. This is especially true if a recruit is a DI recruit. If you are "within range" of a top school admission is still a **** shoot. Every situation is different but most coaches will have some pull with admissions but may require a commitment from the recruit that if they go to bat for them with admissions the recruit will enroll.
Most D3 coaches are very helpful. As part of their job they are able to predict who they can get into school and about how much aid they can expect. They also can understand where they are in the pecking order. 4thGen accepted a great situation at a D3 after considering a lower academic DI that was recruiting him hard and not being admitted to an Ivy.
quote:Originally posted by 3rdgenerationnation:
I just want to mention again that one thing some D3 coaches can offer is help with admissions at academic reach schools. This is especially true if a recruit is a DI recruit. If you are "within range" of a top school admission is still a **** shoot. Every situation is different but most coaches will have some pull with admissions but may require a commitment from the recruit that if they go to bat for them with admissions the recruit will enroll.
Most D3 coaches are very helpful. As part of their job they are able to predict who they can get into school and about how much aid they can expect. They also can understand where they are in the pecking order. 4thGen accepted a great situation at a D3 after considering a lower academic DI that was recruiting him hard and not being admitted to an Ivy.
There is so much to weigh in when making a decision But shouldnt the decision have a question attached to it that says where will I be and what will I have accomplished when baseball is OVER 4 years from now.Baseball ultimately will be part of the ENTIRE experience but it shouldnt effect the Best choice without baseball included .All kids are impressed by different things My son likes nice facilties and a convenient close to stuff location.Of course the curric comes First.Good thread
Fenway South - I'm hearing a lot that D3 coaches expect players to apply Early Decision to get their support. Did you find this?
With a Nov application deadline there's not much time for a senior (I'm planning for next year) to decide. Or do you recommend seeing where you can get in on academic merits and then choose?
With a Nov application deadline there's not much time for a senior (I'm planning for next year) to decide. Or do you recommend seeing where you can get in on academic merits and then choose?
quote:Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
We discovered major differences between traditional D1 and D1 Ivys & Patriot, as well as elite D3 LACs and more traditional D3s. By waiting, we were able to better understand these difference and focus in on what mattered most to us. That "wait as long as you can" piece of advice was one of the best pieces of advice we ever received. We learned alot in 4 years.
Best of luck.
Spider59,
The advice of "wait as long as you can" is sound advice, but it must be in the context of your search. We were comparing D1, D1 Ivy, D3 NESCAC, and D3 all at the same time. It was maddening because each is somewhat different. Yes, every D3 or D3 NESCAC school that we talked to wanted my son to apply ED. It is because the coach has the most influence with the Admissions committee during the ED time frame. The coach has a quota of "slots" that he has available to him. Slots are pretty much an admissions guarantee. The coach could use those "slots" on the best baseball players that he can get admitted into the school. D3 coaches also have "tips". "Tips" are strong support for a particular recruit would mean that the coach wants to tell the Admissions Committee that he is supporting this candidate strongly for admissions. When talking to a D3 coach,you need to ask him what level of support he will provide to Admissions if you apply ED or EA. You also need to know if he is guaranteeing you a roster position for that year.
Our search criteria was very different from most. In our experience, the D3s and D1 Ivys wanted my son to apply Early Decision to help with competitive admissions (less than 7% accpetance rate for his specific college) and to lock up my son as a commit. There was no financial gain in doing so, as the school is need based financial aid. My son was 99.9% sure this was the college for him, and he was right. The University was not on our initial college list or radar, but came about in August 2009 as a result of HeadFirst showcase and the "back-handed" suggestion of another coach that was recruiting my son.
If you are interested in both academics and baseball, you can't just make a decision on one and expect it to work without issues on the other. You have to look at the school from both perspectives....it can be difficult. You have a whole year in front of you to find the right fit between both. It will take a lot of work up front but it is worth it. You want to avoid transferring which is fairly common these days. Students transfer for many reasons. Overwhelmingly, I think it is because they didn't do their homework on the school and it's baseball program. By August, Sept, Oct of 2012 you will have a very good idea of where you stand in D3 baseball recruiting by all the communication & exposure (showcases & camps) you did in the previous year. Right now you should have a list of 25-25 schools that fit your interests and academic profile. You can narrow them down as you receive your SAT & ACT scores. I would research the heck out of them, and make contact with the baseball coach, tour the campus and meet with Admissions and Financial Aid with your parents. You have a whole year, and you'll need to get started now. Best of luck.
The advice of "wait as long as you can" is sound advice, but it must be in the context of your search. We were comparing D1, D1 Ivy, D3 NESCAC, and D3 all at the same time. It was maddening because each is somewhat different. Yes, every D3 or D3 NESCAC school that we talked to wanted my son to apply ED. It is because the coach has the most influence with the Admissions committee during the ED time frame. The coach has a quota of "slots" that he has available to him. Slots are pretty much an admissions guarantee. The coach could use those "slots" on the best baseball players that he can get admitted into the school. D3 coaches also have "tips". "Tips" are strong support for a particular recruit would mean that the coach wants to tell the Admissions Committee that he is supporting this candidate strongly for admissions. When talking to a D3 coach,you need to ask him what level of support he will provide to Admissions if you apply ED or EA. You also need to know if he is guaranteeing you a roster position for that year.
Our search criteria was very different from most. In our experience, the D3s and D1 Ivys wanted my son to apply Early Decision to help with competitive admissions (less than 7% accpetance rate for his specific college) and to lock up my son as a commit. There was no financial gain in doing so, as the school is need based financial aid. My son was 99.9% sure this was the college for him, and he was right. The University was not on our initial college list or radar, but came about in August 2009 as a result of HeadFirst showcase and the "back-handed" suggestion of another coach that was recruiting my son.
quote:With a Nov application deadline there's not much time for a senior (I'm planning for next year) to decide. Or do you recommend seeing where you can get in on academic merits and then choose?
If you are interested in both academics and baseball, you can't just make a decision on one and expect it to work without issues on the other. You have to look at the school from both perspectives....it can be difficult. You have a whole year in front of you to find the right fit between both. It will take a lot of work up front but it is worth it. You want to avoid transferring which is fairly common these days. Students transfer for many reasons. Overwhelmingly, I think it is because they didn't do their homework on the school and it's baseball program. By August, Sept, Oct of 2012 you will have a very good idea of where you stand in D3 baseball recruiting by all the communication & exposure (showcases & camps) you did in the previous year. Right now you should have a list of 25-25 schools that fit your interests and academic profile. You can narrow them down as you receive your SAT & ACT scores. I would research the heck out of them, and make contact with the baseball coach, tour the campus and meet with Admissions and Financial Aid with your parents. You have a whole year, and you'll need to get started now. Best of luck.
If a player is accepted to early decision to his # 1 school, do you have the ability to discuss the financial package if it comes short of expectations to work it out?
Would this depend if the school/baseball coach really likes a student athlete?
Would this depend if the school/baseball coach really likes a student athlete?
quote:Originally posted by Ryanrod23:
If a player is accepted to early decision to his # 1 school, do you have the ability to discuss the financial package if it comes short of expectations to work it out?
Would this depend if the school/baseball coach really likes a student athlete?
Interesting question. As I understand Early Decision you are committing to go there no matter what if they accept you. I would expect them to offer aid as they would any other applicant but important to know their approach upfront Im sure.
The binding nature of the ED commitment has one "out" clause: If the package offered is insufficient and the family cannot afford it, the student is released from his ED commitment. But it also means that the college isn't bound to the ED admit decision either. So the kid goes back into the Regular Decision pool, and could be denied in April. (This is all just the admission process, and the coach would have to honor it, but I am not so sure he would be happy about it!)
As I understand it, as a recruit who i sbeing asked to commit ED. you should have a very accurate read on the financial aid piece (from the FA office, in writing), hopefully well before the decisions have to be made.
As I understand it, as a recruit who i sbeing asked to commit ED. you should have a very accurate read on the financial aid piece (from the FA office, in writing), hopefully well before the decisions have to be made.
Thank you guys..The main message I get is you do Early Decision if it's absolutely you're #1 choice and/or maybe an academically reach school. And that talking with FA office may help get a picture of the package. 
A Division III coach that is recruiting my son advised us that you can appeal the financial aid package after acceptance. Just have some facts and reasons in your appeal. He didn't promise that we would get more aid but that the school does listen and sometimes will award more.