Many questions, new to process

MOMJB,

Your son's grades and ACT score are excellent and in the high academic ballpark for sure. 

I'm not completely following where he's at in the process, nor do I have a sense for his baseball skills. 

Did he showcase this Summer?

Does he have a vetted list of schools he's targeting?

Does he have roster spot offers anywhere?

What is his fastball velo and his height/weight?

Happy to iterate via PM if that's easier. 

You're talking D3 schools so there are no official visits, therefore it's always on your dime. Heck, most D1 visits are unofficial as well, but that's another topic.

In our experience coaches won't ask you to visit campus unless they are pretty sure the kid can get in. But if you're not certain about it, he should ask.  At these schools usually at least some of the players need to get through admissions on their own, but coach should have a pretty good idea. As I'm sure you  know a 34 ACT helps a lot.

There is no contract anything else to sign with a D3 offer. If coach says he can get your son through admissions at one of those schools, I would believe him, but it's a handshake kind of a deal. Same goes for your son's acceptance of such an offer.  In any case nothing is official until your son gets his acceptance letter from admissions. And even in that case there is never anything but verbal promise that he will make the team.

Branson baseball,

I'm not completely following where he's at in the process, nor do I have a sense for his baseball skills.-and I apologize, I should know more technical terms to describe.  He is a PO, has a decent curve,change-up and fast ball. He played HS ball and was starter often. Is a senior.

Did he showcase this Summer? Yes, perfect game and then Headfirst. That's when the coaches started to email etc... "I saw you pitch at ___and know you could make an impact on our team. We'd like you to come visit," etc

Does he have a vetted list of schools he's targeting? His targeted schools has changed a TON since headfirst. Previously dreamed of big well known schools,esp. ivy leagues. However, None seemed actively interested, and my son decided he wanted to hopefully baseball plus academics, so he changed targeted schools to these smaller ones. Based on his mini tours and coach interest, he is communicating w schools I mentioned (Amherst, haverford, swarthmore, Davidson and wash U) The coaches are all in touch with him via email or txt/calls.

Does he have roster spot offers anywhere? No-

What is his fastball velo and his height/weight? Fastball is usually 86-87 Hit 90  this summer but that's not his norm. He is 6'3", turns 17 in a month (yes, is a baby!) and weight 175-180.

So he's looking at liberal arts colleges that are ranked in the top 10 - 15 in the country. 

At 87 mph, 6'3", 175, and only 17, I would think he'd have some high academic D1 interest...but it's late in the D1 timeline. You'd already know if Davidson or other D1's are interested. 

JCG gave some good input.  

If your son has been in active communication with coaches at schools he wants to attend, and your son has expressed his interest in these schools to the coaches and admissions, it's time to ask some questions.

I'm really interested in SchoolName.  Where do I stand on your board?

What are the next steps?

Can you help me with admissions?

Can I have a Spring 2019 roster spot?

There's a tactful way to ask all this.  As we approach September, your son needs to get a sense of where he stands with his targeted schools. 

For many D3's, they'll commit a Spring roster spot to a player who applies ED and gets in. The amount of baseball pull/assistance with admissions varies by school.  And ED deadlines aren't too far away. 

That's very helpful-(I actually wasn't even thinking ED, but it sure makes sense if he is honed in on one school). Thanks for your reply!  He should have a specific school in mind in the next 3wk, and then we can cross our fingers it all falls into place.

Branson Baseball posted:

So he's looking at liberal arts colleges that are ranked in the top 10 - 15 in the country. 

At 87 mph, 6'3", 175, and only 17, I would think he'd have some high academic D1 interest...but it's late in the D1 timeline. You'd already know if Davidson or other D1's are interested. 

JCG gave some good input.  

If your son has been in active communication with coaches at schools he wants to attend, and your son has expressed his interest in these schools to the coaches and admissions, it's time to ask some questions.

I'm really interested in SchoolName.  Where do I stand on your board?

What are the next steps?

Can you help me with admissions?

Can I have a Spring 2019 roster spot?

There's a tactful way to ask all this.  As we approach September, your son needs to get a sense of where he stands with his targeted schools. 

For many D3's, they'll commit a Spring roster spot to a player who applies ED and gets in. The amount of baseball pull/assistance with admissions varies by school.  And ED deadlines aren't too far away. 

It may be late for a D1, but it's not too late to try.  Things happen. If they like him, the can find a spot. 

For Admissions related information, you can review the common data set information for the school to see the academic profile of the type of students they admit.

Just Google 'Common Data Set {school name}'

You can review this  to see where your son stacks up at the school from an academic enrollment perspective.

Mom,

I read my last reply. I didn't mean to imply ED acceptance means baseball roster spot. 

A common way this works at high academic D3's is that a coach asks the player they want to apply ED.  The player will want from the coach some assurance of support through admissions and assurance of a spring roster spot.

ED can be used once per cycle, e.g., ED1 with a 11/1 deadline and perhaps an early to mid December decision.  Early Action (where offered) and Regular Decision can be used at anytime. 

Bottom line is now that showcasing is over, your son needs to understand where he is with his targeted schools.