College Fencing Entering Freshmen (and women)

[oiuyt]

Can you explain what an "early signing period" is?

So are you saying that the "signing period" refers to what is known as a "letter of intent?" This is where the student accepts a scholarship with the agreement to go to that school for at least one year.

For fencing there are two points during the recruiting calendar in which a school may offer and a prospective student-athlete sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI). The NLI is the written scholarship offer.

13.02.10 National Letter of Intent. The National Letter of Intent referred to in this bylaw is the official document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by subscribing member institutions to establish the commitment of a prospective student-athlete to attend a particular institution.

There's a 1-week "early" signing period in November (11/11-11/18 this year). The "regular" signing period starts in early/mid-April.

-B

[pillow]

For fencing there are two points during the recruiting calendar in which a school may offer and a prospective student-athlete sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI). The NLI is the written scholarship offer.



There's a 1-week "early" signing period in November (11/11-11/18 this year). The "regular" signing period starts in early/mid-April.

-B

Interesting. This early deadline would mean that the fencer is accepted by the college and given a scholarship even sooner than an "early decision" notification date.

Is this "early letter of intent" thus for only the best of the best fencers, such as our most recent Olympic male foilist, or are the majority of fencing scholarships offered at this very early November date?

[mgriff]

Interesting. This early deadline would mean that the fencer is accepted by the college and given a scholarship even sooner than an "early decision" notification date.

Is this "early letter of intent" thus for only the best of the best fencers, such as our most recent Olympic male foilist, or are the majority of fencing scholarships offered at this very early November date?

No, the letter of intent is contingent on the fencer being accepted by the school she signs with. My daughter signed a NLI during the November signing period, but she wasn't accepted by her college until December (early enough, though, that she could abandon the other applications that were in progress). It made for a nice stress-free winter and spring, too, not having to live through all that suspense waiting to find out where she'd end up for college.

It's entirely up to the schools who they offer NLIs to--my daughter was solidly ranked, but not a serious international competitor.

[pillow]

No, the letter of intent is contingent on the fencer being accepted by the school she signs with. My daughter signed a NLI during the November signing period, but she wasn't accepted by her college until December (early enough, though, that she could abandon the other applications that were in progress). It made for a nice stress-free winter and spring, too, not having to live through all that suspense waiting to find out where she'd end up for college.

It's entirely up to the schools who they offer NLIs to--my daughter was solidly ranked, but not a serious international competitor.

That's helpful. So the NLI will commit the student-athlete to the college, but the student still has to wait to get accepted later in the year. However, in the case of your daughter, the signing of the NLI had no bearing on her lack of stress. It is possible that the school could have waited to act on her application until April.

[mgriff]

That's helpful. So the NLI will commit the student-athlete to the college, but the student still has to wait to get accepted later in the year. However, in the case of your daughter, the signing of the NLI had no bearing on her lack of stress. It is possible that the school could have waited to act on her application until April.

No direct bearing--except that the school used a rolling admission process, so having the NLI motivated her to complete her application early in order to get that quick response.

The NLI also helped with planning the finances, since we knew early on she'd be getting at least the athletic aid offered in it.

[gladius]

Interesting. This early deadline would mean that the fencer is accepted by the college and given a scholarship even sooner than an "early decision" notification date.

Is this "early letter of intent" thus for only the best of the best fencers, such as our most recent Olympic male foilist, or are the majority of fencing scholarships offered at this very early November date?

This is another one of those never discussed benefits fencing can offer to top fencers AND top students. You would think that the USFA would present this in the favorable light it deserves, prominently, on the home page... NOT.

As oiuyt explained, according to the existing NCAA rules most of which are written to protect/restrict athletes of the major sports (football, basketball, etc.), each sport has different signing periods.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/nli

Fencing had this year the "Early Period" between November 11 and November 18. The "Regular Period" for fencing will be between April 14 and August 1, 2010.

What this does, in theory, is that all recruiting coaches are notified that so-and-so "hot" student-athlete has signed up with a certain school and the "hot" student-athlete is not to be bothered with pressures or offers to join another school. In very popular sports like football and basketball this relieves the pressure on the top athletes being courted by head coaches at other universities. In fencing the pressure is not really that hard to bear (Yale is calling, Duke is calling, UPenn is calling...) but gives peace of mind that provided the academics will not degrade, the senior has made it in the school of his choice.

Aside from the academic condition to be fulfilled by the student, this letter can be rescinded if the school in the meantime decides not to continue with the fencing program as has happened in the recent past. Then it is up to the school whether to honor the scholarship or not or for how long.

I suppose different schools go at it in different ways, but those who have an "early read" path for admission of top student-athletes, they offer the NLI only to those who are accepted by the admission department through the "early read" path, and this happens way before the "early admission" date of December 15 (usually from late August to mid October).

It is a great benefit for those who can get it, making for a very "relaxed" senior year for the students and their parents. Depending on the university this opportunity is offered only to top student who are top fencers. If you are a top fencer but a very weak student you'll have a hard time getting one of these, at least from the "better" universities.

[oiuyt]

this letter can be rescinded if the school in the meantime decides not to continue with the fencing program as has happened in the recent past. Then it is up to the school whether to honor the scholarship or not or for how long.

I haven't read an NLI recently and assume that you're currently well-informed about how scholarship offers can be affected by a school canceling a program.

That said, ALL athletics aid offers are one-year renewable.* It's not possible for a program to offer aid in any other length of time. Indeed, promises from coaches (either verbal or in written side agreements) otherwise are against NCAA regulations. What a coach CAN do is cite a historic record of never pulling or reducing aid as long as a student-athlete remains on the team.

-B

* Looking at programs that are cut, schools can, and have in the past, offer to renew the scholarship each year until graduation for student-athletes that were in the cut program.

[gladius]

I haven't read an NLI recently and assume that you're currently well-informed about how scholarship offers can be affected by a school canceling a program.

NLI para 6. e.

6. Letter Becomes Null and Void

e. Discontinued Sport This NLI shall be declared null and void if the institution named in the document discontinues my sport.

That said, ALL athletics aid offers are one-year renewable.*

Of course they are renewable if the student athlete maintains its side of the bargain, but it is still at the discretion of the school to renew it.

* Looking at programs that are cut, schools can, and have in the past, offer to renew the scholarship each year until graduation for student-athletes that were in the cut program.

This is what I stated in my original post. Even if the program is cut between the date the NLI was signed and the first day in school, it is at the school's sole discretion what it will do: nothing, something, everything that was agreed, for one year or up to the 4 years.

[Nail Biter]

No, the letter of intent is contingent on the fencer being accepted by the school she signs with. My daughter signed a NLI during the November signing period, but she wasn't accepted by her college until December (early enough, though, that she could abandon the other applications that were in progress). It made for a nice stress-free winter and spring, too, not having to live through all that suspense waiting to find out where she'd end up for college.

It's entirely up to the schools who they offer NLIs to--my daughter was solidly ranked, but not a serious international competitor.

So does this mean that if a fencer is NOT contacted by now, he/she is NOT being signed up for Early?

And, if he/she is signed up, the coach wouldn't know either if the fencer is accepted until December?

[oiuyt]

So does this mean that if a fencer is NOT contacted by now, he/she is NOT being signed up for Early?

And, if he/she is signed up, the coach wouldn't know either if the fencer is accepted until December?

NLIs can only be signed during the signing periods. That doesn't mean that schools and recruits aren't still matching up with each other, but the binding written agreements cannot be signed. For fencing no NLIs that aren't already signed can be signed until the normal period begins in April.

When admissions decisions are made, when coaches might be informed, and when prospective students might be informed is going to be highly institution dependent. Many schools also offer "pre-reads" to coaches to get an early indication of what the admissions decision is likely to be, before the official decision is made (and, frequently, before the official application is submitted).

-B

[Nail Biter]

... For fencing no NLIs that aren't already signed can be signed until the normal period begins in April.
......Many schools also offer "pre-reads" to coaches to get an early indication of what the admissions decision is likely to be, before the official decision is made (and, frequently, before the official application is submitted).

-B

Thanks for that clarification. I guess I still have a chance then.

[MdA]

I will vouch for the early signing period and early read for Notre Dame and the other fencing schools that offer it to college bound fencers.

It is great for fencers to know early in their senior year (of high School) that they are accepted at the University of their choice. But, the fencer needs to do their homework….test scores…applications….essays…etc…..all need to be submitted before this early decision period.

If you are in contact with a coach…and they are serious about recruiting you…they should be able to tell you what you need to get to the admissions office.

If you don’t get this stuff in early…you will end up in the crush of applications…later in the year….during the normal signing period.

[gladius]

I will vouch for the early signing period and early read for Notre Dame and the other fencing schools that offer it to college bound fencers.

It is great for fencers to know early in their senior year (of high School) that they are accepted at the University of their choice. But, the fencer needs to do their homework….test scores…applications….essays…etc…..all need to be submitted before this early decision period.

I agree 100% with MdA and everybody interested in taking advantage of this "very early" approach must get his/her ducks in a row EARLY.

The 2010-2011 academic year is over now for this approach (i.e., for current seniors in high school) but this is the time for the current juniors in high school to get ready.

1. The most important thing for any junior is to take SAT and ACT tests as soon and as early as possible to see where he stands and if/where he should improve academically.
2. GPA in high school and class rank are also very important but this is also the result of the work of the previous years.
3. E-mail the various college coaches you are interested in to get your name known. If you are on the top of the USFA rankings, the coaches already know of you. If not on the top, don't be discouraged, just do your best as always and contact the coaches via letter/e-mail.
4. Study and sign up for the NCAA to become familiar with all the restrictions and opportunities, including the list of all colleges offering fencing at the various levels.
5. Get your priorities straight: the absolute TOP priority is to be accepted by the school (admission department). Then and only then you can raise the issue of scholarship: the latter without the former is a non starter.
6. A junior (in high school) fencer cannot have direct contact with the coach until July 1 of his junior year (after he completes the junior year), but his coach and parents can. They should ask all the questions of what is required to get ready for the first "legal" interview with the coach (after July 1).
7. At the interview come prepared. The coach will offer/suggest what the best path is to apply. If the top student-fencer is offered an "early read" by the schools which have this opportunity (something which is not advertised on the school web site), the best advice is take it for the reasons mentioned in previous posts.
8. As for everything else, the best advice is go early: test early, prepare early, apply early, don't wait until Summer National to make the first contact with the school or coach.
9. Lastly, talk with student-fencers who are 1, 2, 3 years in colleges of your interest, your potential team mates in college. They are an incredible source of information--inside and public.

Good luck and remember that this is probably the BEST BENEFIT you'll ever get from the sport of fencing! Be prepared, do take full advantage, don't ignore it just because the USFA ignores it...

[JEC]

Good luck and remember that this is probably the BEST BENEFIT you'll ever get from the sport of fencing! Be prepared, do take full advantage, don't ignore it just because the USFA ignores it...

My dear Gladius, I disagree that this is "the BEST BENEFIT" from fencing. Certainly, this is one of the most important benefits from organized cadet/junior fencing, but I think the lessons from the sport can transcend the extra leg in the admission process to elite universities. As a parent going through this madness right now, I strongly agree with the advise that you, MdA and OIUYT provided. I have my fingers crossed ...

[Mo]

Good luck and remember that this is probably the BEST BENEFIT you'll ever get from the sport of fencing! Be prepared, do take full advantage, don't ignore it just because the USFA ignores it...

I also agree that this is the BEST BENEFIT. Seeing a kid that has absolutely blossomed in college from being on a team, a supportive team, has made such a huge difference.
College fencing can be amazing.

The Momster