The Path to College Water Polo: Fall 2015 Updates

Thank you to everyone who came to the "Path to College Water Polo" presentations during the recent JO College Expos in Irvine, CA. John Abdou and I enjoyed meeting all of you, and I hope you found helpful the information we shared. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about any of the material we covered. 
            
There have been a number of recent developments in a few areas concerning the athletic recruiting and college application process, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some of them with you.
 
Liberalized NCAA Contact Rules and Their Impact on Water Polo Recruiting

Last fall I wrote about the liberalized NCAA contact rules and how they might actually affect recruitment of water polo players (seeSkipShotmagazine, Fall 2014). I forecasted that the liberalized rules allowing coaches unlimited ability to call, text, and email prospective student athletes starting in September of their junior years would place even more importance on athletes being "complete candidates" by the end of their junior years. Also that the new rules would not bring about significant changes in the early action/decision cycle for senior boys and girls, the November early NLI signing period for senior girls, post-season recruiting for senior boys, or in-season recruiting for senior girls. 
 
I also suggested that while the liberalized contact rules might advance the overall recruiting process, especially compressing the early (fall) cycle and making it more competitive at schools with the most rigorous admissions requirements, it would not result in significant recruiting changes during or immediately following conclusion of the junior year—as by that time, as in the past, previously unknown information (5^thand 6^thsemester high school grades, standardized test scores, another season of high school and club water polo) should be available for consideration in the recruiting process and influence the direction it takes. 
 
So far, my forecasts appear to have borne out. Over the past year I've observed that in some cases, the recruiting timeline has sped up, with coach-athlete conversations—which in previous years would have taken place after JOs—now taking place even before conclusion of the junior year (June or earlier). While most college admissions departments have not moved up their timelines for evaluating prospective student-athletes, some have, thereby enabling some students to submit applications and receive admissions decisions during the summer preceding their senior years. But in most cases, the timelines are unchanged. Juniors (and underclassmen) will continue to be well served by focusing their efforts on being athletically and academically prepared by the end of their junior years.
 
Wagner College Adds New Men's NCAA Water Polo Program

Starting in the 2016-17 academic year, there will be a new men's NCAA varsity water polo program, bringing the total to 47 intercollegiate men's programs nationwide. Wagner College, located on Staten Island, New York, announced earlier this month that the new men's program will begin competition next fall. Wagner's administrative officials noted that based on the success of its women's program—and the high caliber of student-athletes that water polo attracts—adding a men's team is a "very smart and logical move." Presumably, recruiting for the new program will get underway this fall; so prospective student-athletes interested in men's water polo at Wagner should contact the head coach, Chris Radmonovich. 
 
New Timeline for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

Starting October 1, 2016, students seeking federal financial aid and federally subsidized loans will encounter simplified FAFSA applications available months earlier than in past years. This will enable colleges to evaluate students' eligibility for federal financial aid and federally subsidized loans earlier in the application cycle, giving all students (and especially student-athletes participating in the early recruiting cycle) an opportunity to receive reliable information about any federal financial aid they may be eligible to receive much. Completing the FAFSA is required for students seeking federal financial aid, including federally subsidized student loans, and in many cases, college-specific need-based financial aid. Be sure to check with the financial aid offices of the schools you are applying to in order to confirm which applications are required and be considered for need-based financial aid (FAFSA, CSS Profile administered by College Board, or both). This change will not affect current seniors, who will still file their FAFSAs starting January 1, 2016. Although this doesn't directly concern water polo recruiting, since there are so few scholarships available for water polo players (see SkipShotmagazine, Winter 2013 and Spring 2015), knowing about all about financial aid possibilities may influence an athlete's collegiate choice.
 
Will Your College Require the SAT and ACT Writing Component? Be Prepared!

Starting in March 2016, students taking the SAT will encounter a newly formatted test (see SkipShot magazine, Summer 2015). Along with eliminating penalties for wrong answers and supposedly aligning the test with what students actually learn in high school, the new test will feature a reworked and "optional" essay section. The SAT essay will be 25 minutes longer than the previous essay section and feature a more specific, text-based prompt, designed to elicit more critical thinking. The "optional" ACT essay also is being reworked—it will be 10 minutes longer, and students will be asked to evaluate three perspectives on a societal issue. But before you start celebrating its demise, check the requirements of the schools you plan to apply to—they may still require the essay portion. As with Subject Tests (SAT 2s), it's better to be proactive and take the tests to be sure you don't miss out on any recruiting opportunities because you are not a "complete" candidate.
 
Questions? Write to Angela Kraus at angela@shootingforcollege.info. Angela Kraus is an experienced and certified college counselor providing comprehensive college counseling services to help students prepare for and ensure eligibility for graduation from high school and admission to colleges. A special focus of her practice is advising high school athletes as they pursue the athletic recruiting process, with emphasis on water polo players.