I tend to agree and while I’m generally not one to have an overinflated view of my child’s capabilities (if anything, erring perhaps too much on the other end), the coach keeps dangling the next possibility instead of just saying they’re done and that we should move on (which he had done with my other son at an earlier stage a couple years back).
He had previously said he’s also ’open to a guaranteed roster spot depending on numbers’ if he got in on his own (saying he’ll know by the time of RD decisions, of course, though wondering whether the subsequent decommit might have brought more clarity already) so he may ask whether that’s on offer, in which case he would consider ED2 without support.
I am assuming he either passed a pre-read for the coach to continue engaging or could it be he didn’t submit one? Feels weird to ask him at this stage (kind of like asking someone’s name after knowing them for a while), though it would certainly be helpful datapoint to determine whether to ED2
You mean the coach requested/received the pre-read materials but didn’t actually submit them to admissions? When we when through the process it was pretty clear when there was a pre-read.
Regardless, I don’t think the result of a pre-read is material for someone without support. If you are competitive in your own right, which you need to be for unsupported admissions, you are going to pass the pre-read.
If a pre-read happened and you don’t have the results, I think it’s ok to tell the coach you are considering going in ED2 but could he share the result to help make the decision. I’d specifically ask if admissions put him in A or B band.
Hi all. Haven’t read this whole thread yet, but CC has been very helpful as C26 navigates the confounding world of NESCAC recruiting. Have a few questions about timing and typical protocol when it comes to pre-reads for students in the spring of their junior year. As I understand, pre-reads begin around now (May) and continue through the summer. My C26 has been told by coaches this winter/spring that they are a “priority” recruit and/or in the “top tier” of recruits.
C26 is getting antsy and wants to make sure they don’t screw things up (i.e., come off as needy/crazy and upset the coach…or play it too cool and end up seeming disintersted in the school and lose a spot). Now for their questions:
Is it appropriate for C26 to ask the coaches now if they will be receiving a pre-read and when/timeline?
C26 has a clear first choice, 2-3 schools in “I like them a lot” place, and 1-2 that are in “I would be fine if I went there” place – Is it a no-no to just tell the first place coach that they will definitely go there if they get a green pre-read and a slot?
If C26 does #2, what does that mean for the other schools? In their sport, the coaches seem to know each other pretty well. Do they risk losing the other potential spots if the coaches talk?
As you can probably tell, C26 wants this to just end already. They have a great perspective on things, and even have a “schools I will love if I decide not to play sports” list of colleges, but they are pretty cooked.
Thanks in advice for your advice and guidance. We’ll probably have more questions as we continue to work through the next few months.
Parent of 2025 NESCAC recruit. Our experience was honesty is the best policy. My impatient student was very transparent with the coaches and reached out frequently.
My D26 will be reaching out to the NESCAC school she had an official visit with to inquire about their pre-read timeline sometime this week. She doesn’t get out of school until mid June, has already notified her counselor that she will need her junior transcript as soon as grades are in so she can get them to the schools that request pre reads ASAP.
D26 has 4 schools that are at the top of her list, and will weigh her options if and when offers start coming in. She has been transparent with all the schools that have currently offered her roster spots that she is still looking at other programs, if anything, so she can be as certain as she can about her choice, but that she can see herself at the school and playing for that program.
D26 expects that the coaches all talk. She’s had several recruits on the same visit circuit, and as the recruits all talk, she’s sure the coaches will as well, especially if they’re all in the same conference.
Solidarity. This recruitment process is not for the faint of heart. D26 wants to be done so badly, but also, wants to make sure she weighs all her options so she doesn’t have buyer’s remorse.
My son went through NESCAC recruiting 5 years ago, so my information may be dated. Doesn’t the NESCAC only do prereads after July 1?
I think if your student is getting a preread the coach will tell them; asking adds no value (ie doesn’t tip the coach towards offering one, or has the coach tell you earlier). That said, my son would always ask the coaches where they were in the process and what next steps would be (which is a less blunt way of asking about prereads). By now if a coach is interested they should at least have transcripts/scores, and some may be working with the student to assemble the preread materials.
At this point, my son told every school they were “one of his top choices”. You never know how things are going to play out. And once he passed prereads, and had a clear first choice – a school he considered for the first time only 10 days earlier – he did say to that coach it was his first choice and that he’d accept on the spot if he was lucky enough to get an offer. (Which is what happened, at a non NESCAC).
My kid went through the pre-read process for 24. There could be some differences by sport but I can give some insight on how her process went.
By this time most coaches were firming up their ranked lists and she was going back and forth with them to determine where she was on their list and where they were on her lists.
Coaches started talking about what would be needed for pre-reads and were asking about test scores and how her junior year was looking to finish.
Coaches started collecting pre-read materials mid-June and where needed portals were opened for docs that needed to be uploaded.
At this time coaches were providing feedback on where she was in the pre-read pipeline (highly desired recruits go first) and what should be expected on July 1st. Some coaches also started making comments like “if you tell me that we are your first choice nobody else will be submitted for your position” or “I’m submitting two people for your position and I’m likely to take whoever says yes first”, etc. in order to add a bit of urgency.
Calls were set up for July 1st starting early in the morning to give/receive feedback on the pre-read.
If your kid has a clear preference I would say make it. Mine never had a single school above all others but she did have preferences and she would say top 2 or top 5. A couple coaches told her that they needed to hear top three for a first round consideration but only one coach said that they needed to have an acceptance before they would commit to submitting for a pre-read (and they still submitted without that assurance).
The coaches all know each other and all talk among themselves, that is just the way it is. We would see coaches from multiple schools talking among themselves as they were all obviously watching the same one or two kids; it is just the way it is. I do not believe that this hurt my kids recruiting at all.
Yes - though some coaches will want to have some of their recruits ready to go and collect necessary materials ahead of time. We know kids that got their offer on Jul 1.
Some schools (Tufts?) had short essays as part of the pre-read, so be ready for that.
If your student needs an excuse to contact a coach now and wants a clue about pre-reads, I would use letting the hs know before the offices close for the summer as a reason. "Hey coach, I’m just checking to see what information you’d need from my hs guidance counselor before they take off on vacation for the summer. " Or if your athlete is planning on playing in some tournaments over the summer, use that as an excuse that “I’ll be out of town playing in the XXX tournament on July 15 so won’t have access to my academic paperwork. Does that work with your time line for sending in documents?”
We were told that they can start pre-reads mid-June but can only communicate results beginning July 1st. On July 1st. my D received results and offers so the pre-read was completed before July 1st.
Thanks, cinnamon1212. I also thought July 1 was the magic date, but a parent of a club teammate said a school requested materials around Memorial Day for their kid last year. Who knows for sure…but we’ve been hearing 7/1.
They can start collecting and submitting pre-read materials prior to July 1st. Most will require spring grades which means they start gathering material in late May early June.
Officially they cannot provide feedback on a pre-read or make offers before July 1st. Unofficially some coaches will be hinting and speaking obliquely to their top candidates earlier.
My son’s timing was thrown off by COVID as his junior year season was canceled, some schools did not have in person tours, others only allowed students to walk around campus without going into buildings. He was recruited, but was not given an offer until later in the process as he was not #1 on the list, but his offers and eventual “Commitment to the application process” came in August before his senior year. It can be frustrating to wait, but no one should lose hope if there is not an offer from a NESCAC school right on July 1st.
Daughter is a current NESCAC athlete. She did know by now which NESCAC coaches were going to submit her for a pre-read. In our experience, honesty and specific questions were best. If your child hasn’t been told yet by the NESCAC coaches they’re in communication with if they’re submitting them for a pre-read, they should ask- they can frame it such as, “What are the next steps in the process, do you need any additional information from me?”, but they need to ask. I also think it’s ok and possibly helpful for them to say that “You’re one of my top choices.”
My D was flat out told by her top NESCAC choice that if she passed the pre-read (the coach started gathering materials late May/early June, such as school profile, etc.) she would offer her a roster spot on July 1st, which is exactly what happed. She was told by another NESCAC coach that she would hear by July 15th, which led us to believe that she was likely in the top 10 on that coach’s list, but not top 3. All of the NESCAC coaches she talked to told her that they were taking approximately 20-25 through pre-reads for 5-6 roster spots (field sport).
If your kid is really interested in the NESCAC schools they’re in talks with, it’s pedal to the metal, it’s not the time to be subtle or beat around the bush. They should be respectful, but ask very specific questions- do you anticipate submitting me for pre-read/what are next steps/what do you need from me, where am I on your list of recruits, you’re one of my top choices, etc.
Thanks, Crosbylane. Appreciate the advice and guidance. Thanks to your and others’ advice, our kid has decided to take a more direct approach with the coaches and will be reaching out to them next week and asking some specific questions. It will be interesting to see how things go…
I can’t keep anything straight either.