My college junior son is considering entering the portal as a graduate student to use his final year of eligibility. He wants to stay on track to graduate in 2021. He’s at an ivy, so cannot stay at his current school, however, they have given him the option of a 9th semester. I know nothing about this process… Apparently, he has to enter the portal to start things rolling? Once he enters the portal, if he doesn’t find a grad program he likes, can he back out and take the 9th semester? Does he start emailing other college coaches or do they just “find” him in the portal? Thanks for any advice!
He’ll want to work with his coach and compliance officer on this. They should be able to outline the options and process, as well as how the portal would affect the ninth semester. But generally once the compliance office places him in the transfer portal he’d be able to email other coaches or can choose to make his contact info available to them on the portal. There are quite a few spring senior Ivy athletes in the transfer portal right now so those athletic departments and coaches know the process well by now if they didn’t before.
I am sure it’s frustrating that all the Ivy League schools aren’t handling the spring season sports issue in the same way.
Just wanted to add that there is a blog by Rick Allen called the Informed Athlete which may have some helpful info for you too.
Good luck to your S. My S21 is an uncommitted baseball player whose recruiting path has become much less clear and likely more difficult 