NESCAC Statement of Common Admissions Practices
The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
includes eleven of the finest liberal arts colleges and
universities in the United States. The conference enjoys a long
tradition of success both in meeting high standards of athletic
performance and in helping every student realize his or her full
capabilities. NESCAC is committed first and foremost to
academic excellence, and has established common practices to keep
athletics strong and in proportion to the academic mission of the
member institutions. Admissions offices work closely with
athletic departments to ensure that students on all intercollegiate
NESCAC teams are representative of each institution's student body
and are admitted with the expectation of their full participation
in the life of the college.
Student-athletes applying to NESCAC institutions should be aware that, although each college has its own distinct admissions process and requirements, the following guidelines have been agreed to by all eleven members regarding all candidates for admission:
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All admissions decisions are rendered and delivered in writing by the admissions office only. Any communication regarding the status of admissions decisions conveyed by non-admissions personnel should be considered preliminary, unofficial, and subject to change.
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No admissions decision, including an Early Decision, will be made until the candidate's application is complete and all necessary supporting documentation has been received.
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By NCAA and conference policy, there are no athletic scholarships awarded at NESCAC institutions. Financial aid awards are offered in writing only by the institution's financial aid office and not before the student has been admitted. Institutions may not provide written or oral financial aid evaluations to prospective students prior to being admitted.
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All NESCAC institutions have an Early Decision Round One option with a mid-December notification date. All NESCAC institutions except Amherst and Williams have an Early Decision Round Two option with a notification period between February 1 and February 15. All NESCAC institutions have a late March-early April Regular Decision notification period.
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The following information is provided by the deans and directors of admission at NESCAC colleges to help prospective student athletes understand some of the factors involved in admission decisions at our institutions.
Factors in Admission Decisions
Goals
All NESCAC member colleges enroll students who will enhance and
enjoy the intellectual, social, and extracurricular communities our
campuses provide. We seek students who are interested in the
wide range of rigorous intellectual experiences offered, and value
the role that extra-curricular activities, such as music, debate,
theater, political action, and athletics, play on campus. In
addition, NESCAC member colleges are committed to racial, ethnic,
socio-economic, and geographical diversity.
Differences in
Evaluation
Despite our common goals in creating a campus community, the ways
by which NESCAC colleges recruit, admit, and enroll students vary
both by institution and over time. Each NESCAC member college
maintains its own set of practices to select a class.
Differences are reflected in how applications are read, which
application materials are weighed most heavily, and even what
information is used in the selection process.
Standardized
Tests
NESCAC member colleges vary in terms of which standardized tests,
if any, are required of applicants, and how the results are
evaluated. It is important to understand and fulfill the
specific requirements of each NESCAC school to which you
apply.
Institutional
Priorities
In any given year, NESCAC member colleges will have
institution-specific goals for the incoming class, goals such as
increasing the number of majors in a particular discipline, adding
diversity, or creating gender balance.
Financial Aid
Considerations
Some NESCAC colleges are completely ‘need-blind' in their
admission practices, making all decisions without regard to the
amount of financial assistance a student may require. Others
are ‘need-sensitive' in the selection process, factoring
student aid needs into some of their decisions. Some NESCAC
colleges award financial aid strictly on the basis of financial
need and pledge to meet each student's demonstrated financial
need. Others award a variety of merit-based scholarships
based on their evaluation of a student's academic accomplishment
and potential. No NESCAC college, as a NCAA Division III
member, offers athletic scholarships of any kind.
The Coach's
Role
While admission decisions are made exclusively by the admission
committee, the coach's assessment of the athletic ability and
potential contribution of each candidate is considered. Be
aware that coaches at different colleges may evaluate the same
student-athlete's ability differently. Positional
considerations may also lead to different assessments of an
applicant's value to a team.
It is important to remember that this is a college admission process with an athletic component, not an athletic recruiting process that comes with the opportunity to attend college. NESCAC coaches actively identify and recruit student-athletes and act as advocates for them; but no coach at any NESCAC college has the authority to offer, promise, or otherwise guarantee a spot in the incoming class to any recruited student-athlete.
Learn More
You can learn more about our students, our academic programs, our
athletic programs, and how to apply for admission by visiting the
following sites
NESCAC Institutional Admissions Web Sites
Amherst | Bates
| Bowdoin | Colby
| Connecticut College
Hamilton | Middlebury | Trinity | Tufts
| Wesleyan | Williams
