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Son is very interested in Johns Hopkins.  Wondering if they are like MIT and Caltech where the baseball coaches do not have influence with admissions?  

Also, we looked at their commitments on Perfect Game, and noticed that there are 12 players on the list for 2019's.  Prior years are more in line with what I would expect - 5-7.  Why might this be the case?

Anyone have any insight on the recruitment process there?  Son has great test scores, but I suspect a lot of kids with very good scores get rejected by admissions.  Wondering how this process might play out.

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Going back about ten years I know Babb had pull for his top recruits. They tend to roster forty to fifty players. A player has to have a serious grasp of his ability to know if he can become a top 18-20 on the roster and get on the field. The top recruits are asked to apply  ED. 

Not the same.  HC at Hopkins does have influence to support academically qualified athletes.  JH was interested in my 2018 and stated "unequivocally he needed a minimum 32 ACT to support his application regardless of how much they liked him".  

JH carries a big roster supporting both a JV and V college baseball program.  Your son would have to be considered a top prospect with that min 32 ACT to even think he has the shot of playing on V.  (So odd to speak about JV and V for college ball).  Great school, sweet turf field, can't stray to far from the campus in the evening.... security shows up every where at dusk.

There is a member on this Board with a P at JH...she will likely pipe in.  I think her son had very strong scores as well and the JH HC encouraged her son to apply without his support, he did and was accepted.  She's quite dialed in.  The HC doesn't want to burn the leverage he may have to support 4-6 players (who have the min 32 ACT) when a 35-36 ACT player may get in on his own (maybe the HC still gives a nod to admission, no clue).

Last edited by Gov
backyardonfire posted:

Son is very interested in Johns Hopkins. ..we looked at their commitments on Perfect Game, and noticed that there are 12 players on the list for 2019's.  

Regarding D3s and commitments:   A  very mediocre player who attends a PG showcase and then gets admitted to a D3 school purely on the basis of his academics, without a prayer of ever making the baseball team:  Is that considered a commitment?

A former poster’s son attended a HA D3. His kid was one of the six the coach offered to grease through admissions ED. On the first day of fall ball there were twenty-seven walk ons for three roster spots. Every one of them were under the impression they were “preferred.” While the coach could have an unlimited roster he had a thirty-two player limit.

One of my son’s high school teammates was told by the coach at a HA D3 if he gets accepted he’s on the team. The kid was a four year backup. 

Obviously the education comes first. But if baseball is important enough learn the difference between “interest” and “love.” Don’t hear what you want to hear. Listen closely for the truth. “He will have an opportunity win a position” is not love. It’s the least any coach will tell any player. 

Last edited by RJM
Chico Escuela posted:

I don’t think Hopkins has a JV team now.  I talked with Coach Babb recently and his description of the program didn’t mention JV. (Can’t recall if I asked about JV specifically, but I was trying to explore the rumors I have heard about over-recruiting at JHU without being too direct about it.). Can anyone confirm?

The 2019 roster had forty.

Mominthestands posted:

So, what will you hear from a HA D3 or any highly ranked D3 if the coach "loves" your son?

 

Level doesn’t matter. Genuine interest comes early in their recruiting cycle. The coach talks more in specifics (you will have an opportunity to win the “position” job or I’m thinking of converting you to “position” versus talking in generalities about winning any position. How often they attempt to see the player. 

Nothing is cast in concrete. Players do go from the back of the roster to become starters. But they don’t get first shot. The reality of college ball is not all opportunity is created equal.

Coaches have a general idea of what they expect to occur. One of my son’s high school teammates was brought in as the third recruit at his position. It was his only D1 offer. The two earlier recruited players couldn’t play themselves off the field no matter how poorly they played. The teammate went 8-20 over two years before being told he was no longer needed on the team days before opening day junior year. His first college at bat he ripped a game tying double down the line against a ranked team. He didn’t play again for three weeks. 

While my son’s high school teammate had the best hands at his position I’ve ever seen in high school and travel the other two fit the physical mold of what the coach perceived to be a college hitter. 

Love at selective HA is: "Apply Early Decision, I have a list of XX names that goes to admissions, and you will have a slot / your name will be on the list with my highest level of support." This after a pre-read (and then, you have to ask specifically what that means in terms of your chances of getting in).

Maybe people will post more on the "Interpreting Recruiter Speak" thread.  We certainly heard various phrases during recruiting, I'd be interested to know from those who have seen it play out, what they mean.

 

Mominthestands posted:

So, what will you hear from a HA D3 or any highly ranked D3 if the coach "loves" your son?

 

Not to be glib, but something like this, before a campus visit: "Here's what we like (followed by examples)....Can you come to campus (with a specific range of dates offered), and send your scores and transcript ASAP."

At the beginning of the visit, "Well, admissions likes you.  Let's see if you like us."

Right after the visit: A call/text from the coach when the kid is at the airport, before he gets on the plane home (or some similar scenario, within an hour or two of leaving campus):  "You were my #2 guy, but after you spent time with the team, you're my #1.  I hope you feel as good about us as we do about you.  Take all the time you need to decide."

I guarantee you'll know. Still gotta earn your way on the field, but you'll know the coach believes it will happen.

(did not see anotherparent's post before I wrote mine)

Last edited by smokeminside

I'll share my 2019's experience with Hopkins last summer should it be helpful for you.

2019RHP went to HF in late July and after one of the games, the attending coach asked him his scores/grades then told him it wouldn't be enough to get in. Son had a weighted 3.5/31ACTcomp/32SS).  A week later same coach saw him at Showball where he pitched much better.  He then received an email from Coach Babb asking him to come to their camp.  Son replied he couldn't because of soccer conflict, so Coach Babb asked him for a radar gun video which he then made and sent.  After that, Coach Babb asked for his transcript to submit to admissions.  The next day Coach Babb emailed him reporting admissions said no.  This whole process didn't even take a week.

We were all appreciative and impressed with Coach Babb's honesty and thoroughness.  

My son's story thus far (he is a 2020 RHP):

    Traded emails with Hopkins over a period of a year or so.  HC Babb is very good about answering emails, and my son sent his basic info, then a couple of updates during HS and travel seasons. Babb always responded promptly to say thanks for the info and encouraging Jr to make good grades.  (I wish all coaches were nearly as diligent about email.)

   Son visited JHU this summer and had a good meeting with Coach Babb while he was there.  Babb described the program, answered questions, and asked my son to send updated video and his academic info.  Son sent those ASAP and received a reply email soon after saying Hopkins is interested and wants to see him this summer (son was planning to attend Showball).  A few days after Showball this past week, son got an email saying JHU remains interested and asking if he wants to continue with their "recruiting process" (which son definitely does).     

   Jr is very interested in Hopkins, and this all seems to be good progress.  But where do we go from here?  They have an August camp, but we have a family vacation (going to another country, tickets already bought). 

   My son is in more or less the same position with a few other HA schools.  A couple of schools suggested they want to see the boy at their fall camps.  Other than that, are we just waiting for schools to see their other candidates and then make their decisions?  Can you more experienced folks tell me what happens next--and what, if anything, my son can do to maximize his chances at this point?    

Last edited by Chico Escuela

Chico, at a point similar to yours w my 2019 we went to a few college camps but they were in September/October. Coaches said they liked him but wanted to see him one more time.  Only one coach out of five led us on.  The other camp invites had substance and led to offers. YMMV. PM me for more specifics.

Hopkins camp is good and thorough and the personal evaluation after is very clear. I know that doesn’t help you but I don’t think he invites kids in your son’s situation if he’s not truly interested. Our experience with Babb echoes the above. Still can’t figure out how he gets so many recruits with such great scores. The roster is big. I guess baseball attracts intellectuals. Cough, cough. 

Brensdad posted:

Is Hopkins a school that takes a ACT superscore? Do they care how many times you take it??

The JHU web site says they superscore ACT and SAT, and when the baseball coaches asked for my son's scores, they specified that he should send scores from all the ACTs he took (two, in his case).  So far as I know, every school allows you to take the tests as many times as you want, and to only submit the score(s) you choose.  (I assume JHU wanted all of my son's tests so they could verify what the superscore would be.)

When my son met with Coach Babb earlier this summer, he was told that they like to see at least a 33 for their baseball recruits.  They said they can make lower scores work sometimes, but a 33+ is good.  

Based on the data I have seen, a 33 is 98th percentile, while 34-36 are gradations of the 99th.  I'm really glad I applied to college over 30 years ago.

Last edited by Chico Escuela

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