speedo

Recruiting for my D's sport on the D3 level began in late spring of junior year. Visits took place in the summer and the coaches pushed hard for a Ed decision in the fall of the senior year. In her sport most of the slots are taken during the Ed phase and very few tips were available for RD. (Why would the coach waste a tip on a kid who may have multiple choices and may not come.} They prefer to use their influence on ED.

DVC Daisy

The poster asked about the Claremont schools in particular. The Claremont schools actually cap their admits to a small % of students ED, and most, if not admitted, do not roll over to the RD pool. Therefore, because the selection process is so competitive, and unpredictable, students are encouraged to apply RD.

And it is true that heavy recruiting is done in the spring of the Junior year for DIII schools (just look at all of the "academic" showcases in the spring, summer.) however, it is also the same time that the DI schools are heavily recruiting, including the Ivy League schools. So, all that I am trying to say is that even though DIII schools do try very hard to "get" kids for their DIII schools, the top DI recruited players may, and often do, end up commiting to DI schools after all, including the Ivy League schools, which are in direct competition with many DIII schools. So, the DIII schools usually wait until the dust settles for the early signing period (and likely letters) and then start recruiting (again). It is not too late to persue an athletic spot for a DIII in Oct/Nov and even Dec.

And not all DIII schools would not "waste" a tip/slot for a student not applying ED. If the slot is solid, and the student has the academic stats to get in, then the student would not have to apply ED. If the Coach wants them enough, they can get them in.

And just an edit. My DS did all of this. He was a very heavily recruited DI, solid academic athlete. His sport is a major sport. It can be a very daunting process to go through for an athlete who has many options and is very highly recruited. After going through it with my DS, I am just trying to help people out who are where we were a couple of years ago. HOWEVER, for some reason, every single time that I post on this particular forum, I get slammed by someone. I try to help with a process that students who are not going through the dual process of college selection as well as athletic considerations do not understand as it is a very difficult road. I think we would have valued as much information as possible during that time, but for some reason this particular section of CC is not very "friendly"

DVC Daisy

10scholar - I am assuming that you mean that "they get a substantial number of kids who would be QUALIFIED to play DI" not that the kids play DI. And just because schools are calling athletes back, it does not mean that they will give them a tip/slot/likely letter or scholarship money. It just means that they are calling them back.

10scholar

DVC Daisy - I am sorry if I offended you in any way. I didn't mean to "slam" you - I'm sharing my experiences going through this process as well. I think that this forum is a wonderful place and takes a collaboration effort. And many times these experiences may vary, and there are many ways to go about this all, and I think this forum provides great insight into what a prospective-student athlete has to deal with.

Thanks for correcting my mis-statement. Yes - these schools get a substantial number of kids QUALIFIED to play D1, and some of these were committing at the end of the summer. I assume your next comment was referring to my post on another thread, about calling back, and no, of course it is not a guarantee. But again, in my experience, a coach calling me on his own initiative meant he was seriously interested. It is only anecdotal evidence, but in every case where a coach had initially called me I ended up with an official visit offer, and if I took it every time I ended up with an actual offer.

speedo

don't know much about the claremont schools, but know a lot about D3, especially swimming. At the better schools the coach only has about 6 tips per year. 2 or 3 may be
sure bets ie the kid gets in - those slots are almost always used ED. What's left and sometimes that's nothing, gets used on the RD round. if the coaches were smart they'd use those on the student(S) most likely to come but they usually use what's left on the best athletes and hope they come. Often there is a preadmission sheet prepared that prequalifies potential athletes so that guides the coaches decisions. If a kid is listed as likely, the coach doesn't want to waste a tip. I can go into more detail but that's pretty much how it works for swimming at the better D3's

DVC Daisy

Well, thank you 10scholar, at least we are both on the same page and want to help those that have not been through this before. It can seem overwhelming for many families. And my other comment about the calls was in reference to your statement on this thread, not another, where your referenced in the spring that coaches were calling you back by then. Well, I was just trying to assure the OP that it is not too late for DIII schools. DIIIs may be able to call you back in the spring (I don't remember), but DIs have a hard rule that they may not call you on their own until July 1st (the magic date LOL). Either way, the OP was asking about DIII schools, and the Claremont schools in particular. Since I did have a bit of information about that I hope I have helped him.

And for speedo - I don't know anything at all about swimming. My DS plays a revenue sport and so I am sure that our experience was very different. Many kids were dealing not only with the competition of schools, what type of school, Division, etc. but some, were in discussions with pro teams. It was a giant juggling act. And yes, kids that did go the ED route, could end up going pro anyway and forget college completely.

pianomom

In regard to the OP's question about the Claremont Colleges. Our son went through this in a different sport two years ago. The coach of the Pomona-Pitzer team basically said anyone who's willing to do the work and tryout when they get on campus gets a shot, but that he had little or no influence. A couple days after our son applied ED I at Pomona he received an email from the coach asking for his unofficial HS transcript plus an up to date transcript of his first semester so far. There are no likely letters or assurances of a spot on the PP teams, this could be different on the CMS teams. Our son sent in the Athletic Supplement with his application, and the extra request for the Semester I transcript suggests that the coach at least had him on his list. If nothing else, the coach's input served to verify his sports involvement as a major EC, similar to sending a CD and completing a fine arts/music supplement and having the orchestra conductor say, "This kid could fill a spot." Our son's take on this was that his sport didn't get him in. If anything, it gave his file an extra look.

vballmom

Another datapoint for Pomona-Pitzer, again for a different sport. My son and I visited last week and talked to the coach. He stated that he had a say in admissions and asked my son to let him know when his application was in so that he could work with the Admissions dept. My son's academic stats are on the very low end of the Pitzer range, so I'm guessing if he's admitted he'll have the coach to thank.