My son is in grade 12 now, a varsity player and his on the National Mens Epee Philippine team, he want to studies and also want to play fencing in NCAA. can you help my son fullfill his dream.
Here’s a link to the main fencing recruiting thread here on College Confidential. I suggest you read it from the beginning.
Also, note that it’s on the late side for your son to start the process of reaching out to coaches…as many kids in the High School Class of 2018 are already committed to various programs. Hopefully your son has strong results in your zone/internationally? Having some video online where coaches can view selected bouts will help you.
Note that in fencing, regardless of the program, there are only 5 full athletic scholarships available per gender — at maximum. As an “equivalency” sport (vs. “headcount” sport), they can split those 5 full scholarships across more than 5 fencers…and most programs seem to do that (vs. handing out only 5 full rides). That said, depending on your situation, your son may qualify for some need or academic merit aid depending on the schools he’s targeting.
Best of luck. If you can afford the trip (I’m assuming you live in PI), I would encourage he participate in the January NAC here (Virginia Beach), where he could fence in Div1 and Junior (U20) AND possibly arrange to meet some coaches in person. Additionally, I’d advise targeting schools with larger rosters and more international fencers.
The Div 1 Ivy schools do not offer any sports scholarships, so they wouldn’t be the schools you would consider, especially since I believe most do not offer financial aids to international students. The non-Ivy Div 1 schools will often be able to offer some degree of scholarship, as SevenDad mention, if only a portion, but sometimes a full ride depending how desperately they want the athlete. Unfortunately right now, most of the Div 1 schools most likely already have committed their recruitment slots, so you may not have much to “choose” from. But it wouldn’t hurt to approach the coaches to ask about being recruited. I would send out emails asap to the head coaches of all the schools you are interested in, with your son’s academic and fencing stats. Perhaps, if you are lucky enough, one of the schools may have a recruitment slot available to consider recruiting your son. Good luck.
Most Ivies do offer international students need based financial aid. The schools might not be need-blind for internationals.
Most Ivies do offer international students need based financial aid. The schools might not be need-blind for internationals so admissions might be tougher.
Full scholarships for fencing are very rare, but like @SevenDad mentioned, there is also a possibility of financial aid or merit aid. Maybe the PI national coach has some contacts with US national coaches? There is a bit of overlap. Some of the U.S. team coaches are also at universities. Saint John’s, for example, often has foreign students on the team. Not to discourage you but they are often from very strong fencing nations - Hungary, ex-Soviet, etc.
You must read the link that SevenDad included. Basically all the information that you need is in there somewhere. It’s a fantastic resource. Something to keep in mind, many of the 12th grade parents and students have been working on this for 1 to 3 years and the kids are receiving their acceptances to college now for next year. You would have to research, plan, communicate with coaches and apply for 2019-2020.