I recently posted about having 2 top choices in my college search so far, and I’ve followed the advice I received there, keeping in contact with both of the coaches. If you haven’t seen that thread, basically my top choice is a reach athletically/academically, where my second choice is a match in both aspects. Both are D3 schools and I plan to run cross country and track.
The coach at my second choice responded almost immediately, asking about how my summer training has gone so far and telling me to ask him for any help I may need. The top-choice coach responded less quickly with a much less detailed response, not fully answering my questions (what kind of improvements would I need to make?/what’s the next step?). My question is, should I try to stay in contact with the top-choice coach even though it seems like he is mostly uninterested? If so, what should I say?
Also, I feel like I will be able to improve enough this upcoming cross country season to be fairly close to the caliber of runner recruited at the top choice, but I’m not sure if that improvement will be too late to make a difference.
My thought is to try to keep in contact with both as well as any other schools you’re interested in. There are several months to go before things shake out and the more irons you have in the fire (within reason) the better.
In the end, things may work out or not at any one school for reasons that are not within your control, e.g., maybe one school is already stocked in your event(s) and another really needs someone in your event(s). And if you need to get a yes or no from a coach when time gets short, you will have more leverage if you have more than one option. So more possible options is better.
One way to keep in touch is to send any updates on your performance if you’re participating in meets over the summer, any updates on academic test scores that come in, etc. If it’s feasible to go meet the coaches in person, so much the better as someone they’ve met is going to stand out more than others they haven’t.
That makes sense. Should I try to push for an overnight visit with the top choice coach? I’ve already visited campus and met with him, but I know overnight visits can be big in the recruiting process
I’m not as familiar with the D3 rules about overnight visits and what’s typical . . . hopefully someone else can speak to that . . . but in D1 for sure an official visit (official = paid for by the school) is a sign of real interest, as well as a great way to get to know your potential coaches and teammates better. Also if it’s an academically selective school the coach will probably need to review your academics with admissions first.
Do you have anything to lose by continuing to pursue choice #1? I don’t think so. Keep up with #2 because it could move into #1, but at this time you have an entire season left to improve. Anything can happen. You seem to have a good grasp on your chances, so give yourself a deadline for when to decide #1 is out (ED deadline? Christmas?)
You should keep in contact with both coaches, and take advantage of every opportunity to provide any updates that you think are positive. It can be tough to figure out why certain coaches don’t respond, or respond less enthusiastically than others. Sometimes the less enthusiastic response is simply a result of a coach being away from his or her office – like being on vacation or at a showcase. Sometimes it is to send a message. The thing here is that you have received a response from college no. 1 – you haven’t been ignored. Why wouldn’t you play out that relationship to see where it goes?
Most folks think that the best athletes are recruited for college. That is not always so. Just like in the real world when you are looking for work, the person who works the hardest at marketing himself or herself may get a job over someone who has more native talent. Coaches – like employers – are looking for athletes with drive. A part of that drive is putting yourself out there, meeting coaches, going up to them to introduce yourself at showcases, and continuing to email coaches when they don’t reply. I actually had a coach tell me that taking the initiative to set up a meeting to ask about the program brings a student way up on the list.
That is a long way to say, I do think you should ask for pre-reads and overnights. If the coach says “no,” you will know exactly where you stand. If he or she says “yes,” again you may move higher on the list for asking.