The NESCAC, or New England Small College Athletic Conference, is an athletic conference made up of highly selective liberal arts institutions. On top of the academic prestige of the member schools, the league is often considered one of the most competitive Division III lacrosse conferences in the country.
First, a disclaimer: Both Co-Founders of SportsRecruits.com, Chris Meade and Matt Wheeler, attended Wesleyan (as did I). So, this post comes with both slight homerism, but more importantly, experience dealing with the NESCAC admissions process. With many former members on NESCAC rosters, click here to see how SportsRecruits.com can use this experience and knowledge to help you.
The NESCAC has become a trendy topic on the recruiting trail, with more players and parents interested in the conference that has gained notoriety as one of the strongest in DIII lacrosse.
This recognition has been aided over the past 15 years by success on the field. Tufts has appeared in two National Championship Games (winning in 2010), while schools like Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Wesleyan have been national players at different points over that span (Middlebury won three consecutive NCAA titles from 2000-2002 and were runners up in 2003 and 2005; Wesleyan appeared in two consecutive Final Fours in 2006 and 2007). Member schools like Amherst and Williams are considered two of the top Liberal Arts institutions in the country and have had plenty of success on the field as well.
But what does it take to get into a NESCAC school? Here is a look at some admissions tips and how the academic portion of the process works at these schools.
ADMISSIONS TIPS
It has become increasingly important for recruits to apply Early Decision – almost 95% of recruited athletes will apply early decision at an institution. This is a way for the coach to know that the athlete is reciprocating the effort they are making to bring a player to their school. The effort is also monitored by admissions liaison, who goes between the athletic department and the admission’s office. By going Early Decision, the coach knows that if you are accepted, you will be coming.
There are a few wrinkles between the different schools in the conference. For example, Bowdoin and Bates have an SAT optional policy that makes it a good choice for strong academic performers in the classroom who may struggle with standardized tests. To a lesser degree, similar situations are available at Colby and Connecticut College. At Colby, applicants can make up their SAT score with any three SAT II subject scores. The admissions interview is a must for a player who is borderline for a program. The interview shows effort and interest to the admissions staff, allowing a student athlete to explain any weaknesses in their application.
WHAT IS A ‘BAND’?
NESCAC athletic and admissions departments use a ‘banding’ system to rank players who seek admission. The banding breaks players up based on GPA, Class Rank, SAT (or ACT) and SAT II’s, and then categorizes them as A-Band, B-Band or C-Band. Over a four-year period, schools slot a certain number of players per band. The system allows for more flexibility than the Ivy’s Academic Index but limits weaker academic applicants. Schools are generally given 4-7 slots per year. At a school like Williams, the class may be made up of four A-Band students and two B-Band students. The same B-Band student at Williams could be considered an A-Band student at a slightly less selective school like Bates.
So here is a general outline of A-, B- and C-Bands for NESCAC schools.
A Band
SAT Scores 700+ average all above 670
SAT II 710
GPA: 92+ GPA, Almost All As
Class Rank: Top 5%
Courses: 4+ APs, Honors Classes
B Band
SAT scores 650+ average, all above 620
SAT II 640
GPA: 88+ GPA, Mix of As, Bs
Class Rank: Top 15%
Courses: Few AP Courses, Honors
C Band
SAT scores 630+ average, all above 590
SAT II 600
GPA: 85+ GPA, Mix of As, Bs, occasional Cs
Class Rank: Top 20%
Courses: Honors
These are general numbers, but they serve as a benchmark to better understand where a student athlete stands. As you narrow down your schools of interest, providing your transcript and speaking with the coach will provide the greatest feedback and realistic expectations.
HOW LACROSSERECRUITS.COM CAN HELP
SportsRecruits.com has hundreds of former members on NESCAC rosters. Click here to learn how SportsRecruits.com can help you through the recruiting process.
Check back with LRNews each Monday this Fall for more LRNews 101. If you have ideas for topics or would like to see something discussed, let us know in the comments section!
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