Cancelling OVs & questionable advice from coach

CapitalFoodie · 09-27-2012, 10:14 PM

Okay...what's the protocol here? If a coach invites you to an OV later in the fall, but in the meantime, you find out that you are "likely" to be admitted ED to another college (your no 1 pick), should you let the coach know you're applying ED elsewhere? Is it okay to cancel an OV, especially if it's costing you a lot of money? Also, I'm still a little naive about the recruiting process, but my son asked a coach about his school's financial aid policies, and whether they did pre-reads. The coach answered back pretty quickly that if our son applied ED, he would have a good chance at getting in. He hasn't even met our son, nor does he know anything about our financial background. The school doesn't do pre-reads, and I found out the coach gave our son incorrect information about financial aid (not deliberately, I'm sure, but nonetheless...) I'm a little put off that he would suggest our son apply ED in such a flippant way. Another coach we spoke to told us point blank that he would NEVER encourage a recruit to waste his/her ED application unless he was really sure they would be accepted.

fleishmo6 · 09-28-2012, 07:32 AM

Hello
When my son was going through the process last year he was in a similar situation.
He had an ov set up with a D1 program and realized that he was going to apply elsewhere ED so he cancelled his visit. He sent the coach a very nice email explaining the situation but within the letter he asked him that if the other school did not work out would it still be ok to reconnect with him if needed.The coach was very nice about it and my son was fortunate to get into his top choice which was a d3 program.
Most of the D1 programs that we spoke with wanted my sons academic info to send through admissions before an OV was offerred.It was not a guarantee but it was admissions way of saying at first glance there were no red flags.

Best of luck

fenwaysouth · 09-28-2012, 08:05 AM

CapitalFoodie,

I would have serious questions about the school/coach offering your son an OV and encouraging him to apply ED with no knowledge of him whatsoever, and very little background work done (pre-read, FA). That is a huge red flag in my book. EDs are for student athletes that have verbally committed to the school, and the coach has verbally accepted the recruit. ED Admissions is there to "bless" the union and formally accept the recruit. It is not a willy-nilly after thought.

If your son has doubts about his first choice, I would encourage him to see other schools. If not, then I see no reason why he should travel at great expense to check out a school he has no interest in. If he has a little interest then he can apply RD as a backup should the ED school not work out. I would not burn any bridges. I would explain that he will pursue the ED track with another school, but that he may get back in touch with the other school.

Best of luck!

CapitalFoodie · 09-28-2012, 09:18 AM

Okay...that makes sense, because his first pick has already gone through his academic portfolio, received letters of rec, and financial information.

violao · 09-28-2012, 11:09 AM

This process is confusing and stressful. After receiving test scores and transcripts, numerous coaches were confident that my son would be accepted if he applied ED, so I assume that this is common. Have you sent transcripts and so forth and has admissions given a green light?

Is this potential ED offer from his top choice? Has he visited or does he have a visit arranged? I wouldn't turn down other visits until he has visited and is sure that is the school for him. I assume that you are talking with D3 schools?

Use the financial aid calculator to get a ballpark figure on the costs. PM me if you have specific questions....

CapitalFoodie · 09-28-2012, 01:47 PM

Hi Violao. Yes, the potential ED offer is from his top choice school, where he has already visited and had a very good Admissions interview and meeting with coach. The other coach (who encouraged him to apply ED sight unseen) does have his transcript and test scores, but there had been no conversation with Admissions, and Financial Aid has said point blank that they do not do pre-reads. There is no way he could apply to a school ED without knowing the kind of aid he would get, and the calculator is giving me an EFC out of our reach at the moment, although I'm not sure if it's accurate because we're international. And yes, these are D3 schools.

TheGFG · 09-28-2012, 02:40 PM

Why is the visit costing you money? Isn't the school paying?

CapitalFoodie · 09-28-2012, 07:06 PM

These are D3 schools who have not offered travel expenses...limited budgets, I guess. It's a low profile sport, too.

violao · 09-28-2012, 08:20 PM

If his top choice school/coach is offering to support his application with one of his slots and the financial aid package has been offered as a preread and it works, it sounds to me like you are in business. Only cancel the other visit however after this has been confirmed -- strange things occur in the recruiting process. I would let coach b know that you have a financial preread from another school and can't proceed without an estimate of costs to attend.

CapitalFoodie · 09-28-2012, 08:28 PM

Got it...thanks for the help everyone!

SteveMA · 09-29-2012, 08:26 AM

CapitalFoodie-if the school isn't paying then it isn't an official visit. That is the definition of an official visit vs an unofficial visit. Personally I wouldn't cancel the visit because you do not have the acceptance from the other school in hand yet.