Need help and suggestions from the board’s in-the-know college sports recruiting parents
Posted on August 20, 2026 at 11:31:36 AM by BobEvans
(edited August 20, 2026 at 11:33:44 AM)
Due to the sensitive nature of this thing, I will be as clear as possible without being specific.
My kid is a rising high school senior and a competitive athlete in a country club sport. We have just received an official verbal offer for a spot on the team from one of the top three liberal arts colleges in the country. At the same time, we are still waiting to hear from the coach at one of the bottom three Ivies. Our preference is the Ivy, but if you are really looking at education quality, the liberal arts college might in fact be superior anyway, but that’s a whole other conversation. The Ivy coach has told us previously that they are interested, but because of our injury from couple years ago, we are aware that our level is no longer at the top of their choices. (In this sport, Ivies still get to pick the cream of the crop.)
So my questions are: first of all, how exactly does the recruiting process go from the liberal arts college going forward? Now that we have received their verbal offer, what are the next steps? Do we still go through the “normal” application process, i.e. ED? To be more explicit, how much time do we have before we need to dot the i’s and cross the t to officially commit? And is it way before ED? How binding is it? In the meantime, for the Ivy school, let’s say we don’t get offered a guaranteed spot, but rather receive a supporting letter from the coach. Then I’d assume we still need to go through the ED process? My gut feeling is that my kid’s academic profile is easily within the top three in the country in this graduating class (in this sport). So, with the supporting letter, the chance that we get in should be VERY high. Or, should we just forgo all the athletic recruiting and apply on our own? Heck, maybe we can even get into one of the big Ivies. Our goal is to get into the best academic school possible. Any info and suggestions are bigly appreciated!
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Need help and suggestions from the board’s in-the-know college sports recruiting parents
- By BobEvans
August 20, 2026 at 11:31:36 AM
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