Any D3 RD? Worried.

MGSM04
Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:58:56 +0000

I would definitely have your son have a conversation with the coach. Ask if he has a place as a walk on, it will also reinforce son’s interest. I would ask if coach has any support to give in RD and would ED support have made a difference. My experience is that ED with support is what helps kids get into the highly competitive schools. I think a lot of people look at the higher acceptance rates and feel it is the “best shot” but those rates are skewed because it is the athletes with support and the top academic/“other hook” candidates that get in, not “borderline” or “just generally good fit” kids. So if your son was not one of coach’s top three picks, maybe what the coach has to offer is the same for ED & RD. If coach confirms that, your son can stop doubting the decision to go RD and then wait and compare offers.

However, if coach says “I could have helped you ED” then keep in mind that if your son has sent the application already, some schools let an applicant convert the application to ED II during the first few days of January. That is probably not an option because of finances but if something the coach says makes you wish he had done ED you can check and see if it is possible at that school.

NESCACs and well endowed top tier LACs meet EFCs. And you always have the option of refusing an ED offer for insufficient FA. Best of luck - it will work out, many (maybe even most) on this board have kids who fell in love with one school at first but ended up at an initial second or third choice that truly was “the perfect fit”. Sounds like you have a really nice son to be considering the impact of all of this on the whole family.