兒子從13歲進俱樂部打排球,到了申請大學的時候自然想讓他的體育特長幫點忙。但是對於男排來說T20隻有4所大學有男排(如果UCLA算T20的話就是五所),UCLA不在我們申請的範圍內所以還是四所,恰恰都是T5。其它有一些好的大學也有男排,但是他完全可以憑stats進去在決定要不要參加校隊。所以我們要試體育“特招”的就這四所。
下麵就實驗過程從簡到繁分別道來:
1)S, 石沉大海。給教練的Email沒有回音。有次比賽看到S的recruit教練,想湊過去說兩句。人家就給了標準的簡冊,名片就走了。
2)H,不特招,但想讓當分母。教練的回複是這樣的:
Thanks for your email and your interest in Harvard men’s volleyball. At this point we are not recruiting a 2019 setter with our support with admissions. If you decide to apply to Harvard next year and are accepted, please let me know. We do have athletes that join our program that we just cannot help with the admissions process.
If you are interested in our program and are planning on applying to Harvard, it would also be a good idea to come to our camp next summer. It would be a great way for us to get to know you as well as you getting to understand what our program is about. Let me know if you would be interested in that and I can keep you updated.
很明顯,他的排球幫不上。不過我們還是傻傻去參加了他們summer camp,因此耽誤了P的summer camp。
3. P,沒指望。因為P是D1,主教練也是我們俱樂部出去的。好像是近水樓台,其實不然。P教練一直是美國青年隊的助理教練,都從國青隊招,基本都是加州的。class 2018(high school)我們俱樂部身高6‘6的主攻P沒有招,最後H特招。不過recruit教練最初的回複還挺熱情,他說他仔細看了錄像,you did a great job and you are on our recruit list. 但是最後的時候,我收到了預料中的email:
I just had an opportunity to sit down with the head Coach after 135 guys came through campus this past weekend for our volleyball camp and after reviewing all of the players who came to camp, in conjunction with the guys we watched at the last several tournaments, we have concluded that it looks unlikely that we will be able to support your application to admission this coming fall. We only have two supports we can use this fall and with the strength of candidates we have interested at this point we don’t think we will be able to use one of the support letters for you. We wanted to let you know this as soon as we were able to discern it so you can be aware of where you are from a recruiting perspective.
That being said, we would still LOVE for you to apply to Princeton. If you are able to get admitted to Princeton, we would LOVE to have you join our team! I hope you will still consider applying to Princeton.
... (more about application process)
4. M, 單從排球的角度,是我們唯一的希望。因為M是D3,身高的要求相對沒那麽苛刻。在16歲參加全國賽的時候碰到當時M的教練,匆匆的給了一張名片就走了。我就讓兒子給他發email寄了兩個錄像,分別是他U-16俱樂部和高中比賽的高光。結果教練很快就回了一份看起來讓人興奮的Email。但是過了好久就沒下文了,我們再聯係的時候他說他不再是男排的教練。然後讓我們聯係新的教練。一切都得從新開始,但新的教練一直沒有回複他的Email。好的一方麵是新的Assistant Coach也是我們俱樂部出去,跟兒子俱樂部的教練都很熟。賽季開始的第二個大賽,他們就專門看了幾場我們的比賽,算是聯係上了。看起來一切順利,我們被邀請參加unofficial visit(就是自己出旅差費),後來看被特招的基本都是那次unofficial visit。會議基本精神,他會給AO一個support list,10個strong support,10 regular support。但是誰都不能保證被錄取。對我們來說問題就來了,他會不會在strong support list上?於是乎到了最後的關頭,和教練的約了電話,談了一個多小時,雙方的底牌沒有摸清。教練說他在第11名:),但是有可能還會調整,希望我們EA M,而我門的想法是如果在前10就EA M, 否則就EA P。畢竟我們學校的valedictorian進P的幾率遠遠大於M。我兒子就明說了。教練說的意思有個德州的小中是很好的Setter排在他前麵,(但是他也不能保證人家要申請S,H,P)。最後教練說過幾天再確定。那個德州的小中最後進了M,他的父母或許也在子壇。如果他們也能說一下當時的情況,我們就清楚了。過了兩天教練說次序沒變,讓我們從自己的利益做決定。
總之,體育特長沒有幫上忙,不過他幸運的進P和P的校隊。現在在家上網課,早晚還要開車去學校訓練。作為一個高中生,下麵這個U-17錄像基本上代表了他的最高水平。因為U-18的時候recruit已經結束,而且不幸的是他賽季開始就腳踝嚴重扭傷,8個周沒有訓練,無力競爭主力位置。