"We think that if you choose our school and baseball program that you have the unique opportunity to step in and make an immediate impact as a freshman..."
Now, would a coach actually look a kid in the eye, with his parents sitting right there listening, and make this statement if there wasn't an element of truth to it? It's a great school (In fact, one of the "new Ivies" in another thread), my kid loves the coach and campus but these words sealed the deal for him. The coach has hand-carried a copy of his transcript to the admissions department to get a sort of "pre-approval". If the response from admissions is positive my son has decided to apply early decision, at the coach's request. Is this all happening too fast? The coach suggested early decision, basically to be sure my son was coming in so he can concentrate his recruiting efforts at some other positions and not worry about not having a solid catcher coming in. My son knows that early decision is a 4-year decision but he seems fine with that. Any opinions?

quote:

Now, would a coach actually look a kid in the eye, with his parents sitting right there listening, and make this statement if there wasn't an element of truth to it?

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my kid loves the coach and campus

Nawp.

Go for it.

congrats,
the feelings about the school & coach you describe is called a "good fit"
let us know how it progresses

coaches will convey many things during recruiting -
opportunity to earn PT, etc - etc
it all comes down to the player (& parents) feeling confident that their performance will earn what the opportunity promised


"early decision is a 4-year decision but he seems fine with that"??

not sure what that means, sounds like he's headed for basic training (boot camp) -
make sure he's talking to the right recruiter



.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:"early decision is a 4-year decision but he seems fine with that"??

The way I understand early decision, and I could be wrong, is that once he's accepted early, he's committed to the school for four years and would not be allowed to transfer if, say, there were playing time issues or the academics weren't quite what he wanted (academics are not going to be an issue at this school!). Does anyone out there know more about early decision?

I understand where you're coming from PopTime. The mention of playing time as a freshman and impact player really makes my son "perk up". BUT, the fact that you say that your son loves the campus AND the coach and that YOU say it's a great school should put your mind at ease...

I am in agreement with the others. Sounds like a good fit at this point.

Not trying to change your mind at all here but being a skeptic, I want to comment on two things the coach said (and many other coaches say too):

quote:

The coach suggested early decision, basically to be sure my son was coming in so he can concentrate his recruiting efforts at some other positions and not worry about not having a solid catcher coming in.

Sounds good and does have some truth to it but it also says "We want to lock your son up so no one else can lure him away with a better offer."

The other thing he said is a lot more generic that we parents and players want to believe:

quote:

"We think that if you choose our school and baseball program that you have the unique opportunity to step in and make an immediate impact as a freshman..."

The words "think" and "opportunity" are used freely during recruiting talk but that is the way it is and the way it has to be. There will never be any etched in stone guarantees. It still sounds about as good as it can get and an early commitment can be a benefit to all if everything fits.
Fungo

re early decision:
I believe it's "binding" that you show up as a frosh & withdraw any apps to other schools
(kinda like an "academic NLI" for selective schools)

if academic, athletic, or discipline "stuff happens" after that, you're have the same options as students anywhere


the negative about "early decision" is like fungos mentioned, your inability to compare any other offers (aid) or opportunities


.

He made it very clear that he wasn't guaranteeing playing time, just that the kid wasn't going to be wallowing around in the bullpen all season. He'd be playing, making an impact. I guess timing is everything.

Early decision is a good faith commitment to attend the school if admitted. There is nothing beyond your word and conscience to prevent you from breaking this commitment. Certainly, circumstances beyond your control that might cause you to break this commitment will not prevent your child from attending and playing baseball at a different college.

ED is used by many coaches to get commitments to schools that do not participate in the NLI program. It is believed by some people that borderline applicants to 'high tone' schools sponsored by an athletic coach have a better chance of admission by submitting an ED application.

ya got me wondering popT

E.D. response is finalized in December -

early period NLI signees are finalized in November -

is this not an NLI school (if no, forget the rest of the Q's)

if NLI yes, it would seem to mean coach has no communications with admisions, or is not confident your son will be admitted - which if an NLI is signed and you don't qualify for admission it's void anyway

but maybe I'm thinking too much

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Bee> It's NCAA DIII, so no NLI.

cool, go for it

he's basicly asking for the same commitment an NLI gives other schools - that seems quite fair

.

Let me add another wrinkle. I know that ED response is December. This coach told us that when he gets a verbal response from admissions in the positive about a kid, based on his transcript, that they've NEVER gone back on their word to accept him. Especially if the coach acts as an advocate for the kid, which he has vowed to do with mine. So basically if we hear from the coach this week that admissions has given the go-ahead, then it's all just a formality from there as long as my kid keeps his grades up and his nose clean. Would YOU believe it?

POP Time

yes I would !!!!

you have a PM

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Would YOU believe it?

I guess why I'm asking is that my son wants to call off the whole very stressful, time consuming college search process if he hears this week or next (the coach's stated time frame) that he'll get in to this school if he applies. He's tired, we're tired, it would be nice to have it behind us. Opinions?

Poptime,

Some schools will offer assurance in writing with an informal acceptance pending completion of offical ED acceptance. You could ask for that from admissions. Otherwise, I would probably believe the coach.

the best place for stress is behind you

congrats

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For what it's worth, while watching a practice earlier this week at the school where my two sons play, I heard some players joking that it seemed like every one of them heard, at almost every school that recruited them, "we think you can make an immediate impact as a freshman". This phrase brought laughter from a whole bunch of guys. Sounds like it might be a "buzz phrase" at a lot of places.

This doesn't mean the coach wasn't sincere on the occasion that started this thread, but apparently it's not an uncommon phrase on the recruiting paths.

Could not tell if this is DIII or DI. That makes some difference in the thought process I think because there was no indication of aid or scholarship. I am guessing the school is a "reach" school academically.

ED makes the sr. year far less stressful. If your academics are borderline, then ED with coach support is definitely the way to go. If a reach school, coach support to admissions is indication of solid evaluation by the coach.

quote:

"we think you can make an immediate impact as a freshman"

That certainly seems to be the phrase that they have said most often to my son as well... The hard part to decipher is: 1) Do they mean it? or 2) Are they just good recruiters aware of what players want to hear?