Kate,

I agree with all you have said, but I don't think that anything I have said is inconsistent.  Putting financial issues aside, a young person should choose his or her college based on academics and the overall experience, including especially the people at the school.  Athletics may or may not work out, and no DIII athlete should choose a school based on a coach or a program.  Having a diploma from a prestigious university may open some doors, but what matters most in the end is what happens when you walk through whatever door you choose.

bad knees

Just realized that Kate's comment was aimed at me and my reference to the challenge that NESCAC coaches have in finding women's bball players who have the "unique profile" that NESCAC schools require.  Kate, I'm not sure what you find objectionable with my shorthand reference to the substantially-above-average academic requirements for admission to most of the NESCAC schools.  Perhaps you could enlighten us.  Also, I am not sure what you find distasteful about the tip process.  Getting admitted may not be much of an issue in the MAC, but it is a very difficult and challenging process for anyone who wants to go Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Tufts, etc.  Those schools have to turn down many outstanding applicants who are academically qualified to attend the school.  Using one's achievements in athletics to make one's application stand out among the many applications that meet the school's standards seems to me to be something to be proud of, not ashamed of. 

Interesting.  So the NESCAC has tips, but the UAA does not.  Very impressive then for Wash U and UC and others to be so competitive in DIII women's bball.  I have no evidentiary basis to doubt you, but my "real world" antennae still is telling me that a recruited athlete gets some sort of admissions benefit at Wash U and UC.  It's easy to justify.  These schools usually say they are looking for outstanding achievement in all areas - music, math, sports, etc.  A great student who happens to have an outstanding 3-pt shot is as much a contributor to the college scene as a great student who is an award-winning cellist, correct?

amh - The point I was trying to make is that the NESCAC is different from much of DIII.  There are no athletic scholarships anywhere in DIII, but the accepted wisdom is that many DIII schools will find ways to get athletes money, through various types of merit scholarships.  I agree that, in the NESCAC, aid is based entirely on need.

Many people say that D-III schools will find scholarship money for athletes even though there are no athletic scholarships available.  My impression is that this is not true in the NESCAC.  My understanding is that all aid at all NESCAC schools is based on need, and that the coach has no impact on that process.  Maybe others have a different understanding.

Dear Wydown,

Thanks for the info.  Maybe you can help with one more set of questions.  What effect does being a recruited women's bball player have on the likelihood of being accepted to a school such a UC or Wash U?  In the NESCAC, there is a "tip" system, where coaches can "tip" a limited number of potential players each year and that player will get admitted even if they academically are in the bottom half of the applicants.  Also, a NESCAC coach can create a "protect" list, which means: "if the player is among the vast mass of qualified applicants, please let her in because I see her as a player on my team."  And the admissions department generally will honor that request.

Is there anything like this system for women's bball at UC, Wash U, and the other DIII programs with similarly outstanding academics?

Thanks,

Bad Knees

Amh and Sumfun,

Thanks very much for the information.  One more set of questions:  How does being a recruited athlete affect the player's likelihood of acceptance to the school?  I know that, in some NESCAC sports, there is a tip system, at least at some schools.  Under this system, the coach is given a certain limited number of "tips" per year - say 2 or 3 - which can be used to gain the admission of a player who is near the prevailing academic standards but otherwise would not be admitted.  In addition, the coach can put any number of players on a list and tell the admissions department, if these players are within the large mass of qualified applicants, please admit them because I see them as players on my team.  And the admissions department generally honors such requests.

Is this anything close to how it works in NESCAC women's bball?

Thanks,

Bad Knees

Hello All,

I am a new poster, and am excited to find a great place to discuss DIII women's basketball in general, and NESCAC basketball in particular.

I have a question for everyone.  I am sure it has been answered before, but I could not find it.  Here you go: How do the NESCAC women's bball teams recruit girls who fit their unique profile?  Regular AAU tournaments?  Particular camps that are for players with strong academics?  Something else?

I have a son who plays a sport in the NESCACs, so I am familiar generally with how things work. But his sport is not basketball, so I am looking for info to help my younger daughter, who is a bball player and might be a good fit at one of the great NESCAC schools.

Thanks,

Bad Knees

Hello All,

I am a new poster, and am delighted to find a great board for discussing DIII women's basketball generally, and UAA basketball in particular.

I have a question for everyone.  I am sure it is addressed elsewhere, but I could not find an answer.  Here it is:  How does recruiting work for UAA schools like Wash U, IW and UC?  Where do the coaches go to find players that fit their unique profiles?  Regular AAU tournaments?  Special camps for players with strong academics?

I have a daughter who may be a good fit at one of these schools, but I really don't know what to do to see if it is possible/makes sense.

Thanks,

Bad Knees