Hi all. I am the athlete in my recruiting process - and have done most of the communications between me and coaches. I am applying to a couple NESCAC schools, in particular Colby. Below are my academic and athletic informations
Sectional level swimmer
1350 SAT
4.7 W GPA
12 AP classes (Max Rigor Schedule)
2 Paid Year round jobs with a 3rd summer job
Founder and Captain of HS team, in addition to club team.
I received a maybe back from my pre-read, but I’ve considered applying ED. What power do coaches have and what questions can I ask about admissions. I’m also going up for a OV in January. What does that usually look like? Thanks all.
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Hi there - a couple things:
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If you’re using your real name here, you may want to change your username to remain confidential: instructions at How Do I Change My Username?.
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You’re saying that you are a 2024, which would make you a senior now, but also that you “considered applying ED” - the ED deadline for seniors has passed, of course, so that option is gone - you’re now a Regular Decision candidate.
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Are you saying that you submitted for a pre-read in the summer and the coach told you that there was a “maybe”? If so, then you should be asking the coach what that means for their program, and be asking what sort of influence they have in the Regular Decision process. That is school/team/coach/athlete-dependent, and it’s fair to be looking for a clear answer - although since you aren’t an ED applicant, you’re applying to all schools on the same timeframe now, so whatever answer you get isn’t going to impact what you choose to do.
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Generally an Official Visit will consist of time to meet the coaches and athletes in formal and informal settings, plus observe classes and practices - you should think about it as a two-way interview, where both sides are trying to figure out if there’s a fit. By January, of course, you would have already needed to apply, and the coaches will be able to discuss the amount of influence they can have. Swimming parents can probably provide more specifics.
Honestly the facts here are a little concerning for you - is Colby the only school that you’re talking with now and that did a pre-read? Do you know where you are with them and anyone else?
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Thank you for that note about username, now changed.
I have submited my applications to schools - including Colby. Colby it’s self offers EDII, which closes Jan 31 (After my visit).
My pre-read came over the fall due to coaching changes - basiclly saying that I was a strong student but not a like highly likely admitance - smack down the middle. I’ll ask for clarity.
I have talked to a D1 school where I would be a strong academic student - and a preread is currently in the works there. Those are the only 2 schools I have had a preread done – but I have emailed with much more than that. Thanks again
Just making sure you see that ED II for Colby closes January 2, not January 31. (It’s possible that the coach can extend that deadline, or have Admissions switch you from a Regular Decision to an ED II applicant - I would just want you to make sure you had confirmation on that.)
Good luck and let us know if we can help with anything else, and like I said, you may get more details on NESCAC + Swimming from other parents.
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I did miss that… I will bring that up next time I talk to them.
For NESCAC schools, how much does being ED help both athletics and just plain academically.
I think the thing I am lost at most is where do things go after admissions. Is it proper to ask like “if I was to get in, will I be guaranteed a spot on the team or will I have to try on” - and is that any diffrence from having a guaranteed spot to having an offer? 
An additional note, we are pursuing F.Aid - and there is concern that applying ED reduces oppertunity and total F.Aid. Does applying RD bost that aid? And if so, do coaches who expect ED understand that - and does that affect anything academically?
Re financial aid: applying ED doesn’t affect your package. (Applying ED might affect merit but not need based aid).
You really need to have a conversation with the coach. In my opinion, which may or may not be right, you really need to have coach support. Which it sounds like you don’t have (yet). You need to hear the coach say “You have a spot on the team, AND I will support your application with admissions”. That way there’s no confusion over what happens after admission.
I think it’s ok for your parents to have a clarifying conversation with the coach at this point. They can ask the coach to walk them through the process, as they are unclear what’s happening. Or, of course you can too.
Best of luck.
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Also, coach may be able to ask admissions committee or advise you regarding going TO. I know one person 3 years ago similar stats who got in TO on the team.
Were you offered a slot with coach support at Colby? If so, I can say that I personally know of several athletes (in the past 2 years) that were admitted there with the same/lower stats (in two cases, sub 1200 SATs - although, in fairness, they probably didn’t submit those). That being said, these athletes were absolutely top recruits with the strongest level of coach support.
TO? Missing the acronym here…
I believe it’s there - but I haven’t gotten to that point with our conversations. I have a bunch of new questions to ask, so I will be talking to them again soon hopefully.
Addition, again. What are the thoughts on saying “I need financial aid to be at x point before loans and if so I 100% would commit to school A” as school A is not cheap. Does that provide the coach with uneasiness still?
Have you run the school’s Net Price Calculator to get a cost estimate? That’s what you need to do to know if the school is likely to be affordable. Here’s Colby’s: Net Price Calculator
Colby FA will be exactly the same regardless the round a student is accepted in. It’s ok to say to the coach that you need an FA offer in line with the NPC to attend. If the NPC isn’t affordable (assuming you entered accurate info), there’s nothing the coach can do. Some schools will do a financial aid pre-read, so you can ask the coach about that too.
TO is test optional. It’s not sounding to me like you have full coach support/a recruiting slot for Colby…that should not be ‘i believe so’ at this point. Typically (but not always), recruits have to apply ED to gain full coach support…Did the Colby coach say you would be able to convert your app (sounds like you applied RD?) to ED2 until Jan 31? It is possible an offer is forthcoming and contingent on the visit.
If, after the visit, the coach offers you a slot/their full support, ask what proportion of recruits with ‘maybe’ pre-reads have been accepted. Sounds like the coach may be new, so they may have to get guidance from admissions to answer that question, which is fine.
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Has Coach Burton offered you a slot? If he has, he’ll be able to help you read the tea leaves with Admissions. DS is a class of 24 recruited swimmer at a different school.
He has not - I have been talking primairly with their new AC.
I have been offered the ability to change my RD to ED by the 31st which is helpful. That all makes sense, just trying to figure everything out. Waiting on a reponse back.
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What are you waiting for in terms of a response? It’s important that you/your parents run Colby’s NPC to get an estimate for the cost of attendance based on your family’s financial picture.
In that case, you need to have a clear conversation with the AC about whether you have support and how much. Who made the offer for you to move RD to ED II? May ask what is your best time for your best stroke?
If OP were my kid I would tell them to not post anymore info that would be likely to dox them.
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TO is test optional. Your score is good, but well below 25% at Colby.
If OP receives an slot/full coach support, the coach will tell OP whether to apply TO or not.
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