Thanks for letting me know! I agree with your opinion that taking a gap year may not be the best idea for me, especially if it does not come with the guarantee of fencing for that program. By chance, do you know which schools historically have strong letters of recommendation? I have heard from some fencers that some schools’ rec letters are basically “I want this person” and guarantee high levels of acceptance while others don’t. (I know that schools like Brown take on most of their roster from walk-ons due to limited recruitment slots.)
Hi @Fejdy ,
One thing that isn’t clear is what your goal is; is it to be able to fence in college or are you looking to use fencing as a hook to get into a good school? IMO (I have said this before in other threads, and others have said this as well), you should be primarily considering the schools that are the best fit for you in terms of your academic interests and other factors (size of school, location, etc.). If you think it would be fun to be fencing during college, include looking at schools with strong club teams, and/or focus on schools that are a good match for you (“target schools”) where you might be able to be a walk on. Even the top Div I schools usually have team members who were not officially recruited (except for the largest programs, the competitive schools usually don’t have enough recruiting slots, as you noted in referring to Brown). Focusing exclusively about where you can get in based on fencing is like the proverbial tail wagging the dog and not the best way to think about your future holistically. Many of us have seen people who have been so focused on getting into college based on athletic recruiting, only to find themselves in a place that is not a good fit for them (then drop out of fencing, the school, or both). There is nothing wrong of course with finding a school that is a potential “reach,” and trying for it ED, but it should be a school that you want to be at for all reasons. Good luck!
Thank you! I definitely want to find a good fit academically and fencing wise. My goal is to fence NCAA (D1 or D3) but that comes in second to academics. I am strong academic/other EC wise and definitely plan on seeing if I can walk on to some of my reach schools who have NCAA programs
I have a high school fencer that enjoys the sport and has done pretty well (C rated) considering the time he has been able to put into it with other sports/activities. He does not want to fence division 1 in college. He is interested in a Club program. Does anyone know if club coaches have any input with admissions? Is it worth it to reach out to club coaches before or during the applications process?
Club coaches will not have any pull with admissions. Reaching out to a club coach can still be a great idea to help get a feel for what the club team is like. In my experience the more students your kid can talk to the better. Maybe the club coach knows a student on the club team in your son’s major. That can be an amazing connection to make. It can help your son decide if a school is right. And then, if your son does attend, it’s nice to know others on the team before the school year starts.