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Information for the College-Bound Fencer

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The following article, written by George Kolombatovich, was first
published anonymously in the United States Fencing Association's
official publication, American Fencing; it has been updated since then.
It is presented here as an aid to all fencers who are interested in
joining a college team.

So you want to Fence in College?

One question haunts the minds of most high school students across the
country: Where should I go to college? The decision is a very important
one; it is a very difficult one. The following article is written in the
hope that the college-bound fencer might be aided in the arduous process
of selecting a college.

The college applicant who is also a fencer becomes an athletic
"recruit." A recruit certainly has many advantages over the non-fencer.
There are also, however, certain problems that can become bothersome for
the recruit. You, the recruit, should know what to expect from a school
to which you are applying and what the coach of that school may and may
not do.

Good colleges are looking for good students who will contribute to their
college. Each year, some straight A students with 1600 SAT's are
rejected by colleges (don't worry, they get in someplace) because they
have little to offer; they simply regurgitate information . . . they
have no creative spirit. The fencer is unique. The fencer brings
experiences that enrich the college, just as an accomplished poet or
violinist do. This is the type of person Admissions Directors like to
have represented in their stacks of applications. Being a fencer is a
distinct advantage for the college applicant.

You should certainly know how to maximize your chances of getting into
the college where you want to go. Rule Number 1 (No other rule even
comes close in order of importance!) is to get the best grades possible
in high school. If you're a finalist in the World Championships and you
do not have the grades, you will not be accepted into a college of high
academic standing. Getting good grades gives you the option of deciding
where you WANT to go rather than where you CAN go.

Finding out about colleges and their fencing programs is actually easier
than most people think. Some things you can do are:

Get on the Internet and search for "the name of the school" and
"Fencing." Most team web sites will have a "recruit information form"
that you can fill out and submit. It is also a good idea to send an
e-mail message directly to the coach. If you cannot find information
about a college's fencing team on the web, pick up the phone and call
the Athletic Department at any school to find out what sort of fencing
program they have. (Sometimes, if you just call the Admissions Office or
general information number you might be told that the school doesn't
even have a team when, in fact, they have a full varsity program.) You
can find a list of all of the Varsity Teams on the NCAA web site:
http://www2.ncaa.org/sports/winter/fencing/

When you find out that a school has fencing, get the name of the coach;
then send an e-mail or give the coach a call. While some coaches may
hound you, others believe that the fencer should not be actively
recruited until the fencer makes the first move. Let it be known that
you are interested in the school's program. (Although it is against the
NCAA rules for the coach to initiate contact with student athletes prior
to July 1 after their junior year, a student athlete, regardless of
school year may initiate contact with a coach.) Ask the coach what sort
of schedule they fence. Find out if they compete on days when the Junior
Olympic Championships or North American Circuits are held. (Yes, some
varsity teams actually schedule meets on these dates.) Ask about lessons
and team training. Do not assume that you'll "never get to fence" if you
go to a top-ranked fencing college. "Walk-ons" - students who entered
college without any fencing experience regularly compete on NCAA
championship teams. Find out about the coach's prioritizing of athletes
and academics. Ask about the graduation rate of fencers from that
college. Ask yourself if you want to spend four years with this coach.

Talk to other fencers who are in college. Ask them about their
experience as a collegiate fencer. Find out what training is like at
their school. Is their fencing improving? Are they enjoying it? What
sort of opportunities exists for training with better fencers? Be sure
also to ask them about their academic experiences! Can you achieve the
level of academic excellence you desire at their school?

Don't believe everything you read or hear about a school. Frequently,
guidebooks on college selection have incorrect information as to what is
offered at a school. Sometimes they will indicate that a major is not
offered when the opposite is true. All too often you will hear that one
school is in a very dangerous area and another is in a very safe area
when the truth is that security at the former is excellent and students
at the latter are far more likely to be the victims of crime.

It pains me to write this part of the article, but some of my
colleagues' actions require me to warn you: Don't believe everything a
coach tells you. Some will lie to get you to come to their school. When
you are told that to get into a school you must apply early decision or
tell the coach that you are definitely coming or go to that coach's
summer camp, you are probably not getting the truth. If you start to
feel that a coach is "boxing you in," that coach may not have your best
interests at heart. Remember, you have to select the school that is best
for you. If a coach is harassing you, stop dealing with that coach.

Find out what the college requires for admission. Some applications
require SAT's or ACT's; some demand specific SAT II's. Make sure you
fulfill all of the school's requirements. If you're not positive, ask
the coach - she or he will be more than happy to help you meet the
requirements. It is also a good idea to have your standardized test
scores sent directly to the colleges to which you are applying.

Carefully check out the financial aid situation. While only a few
colleges offer athletic scholarships, many colleges give grants based on
need or other criteria. The question to propose to the coach is not "Do
you have fencing scholarships?" but "How can I afford my college
education?" Many students at what are thought to be very expensive
colleges without "athletic scholarships" are easily able to afford their
education. It is also a good idea to look into the earning potential for
graduates from the schools you are looking at. In the long run, an
athletic scholarship at a less academically prestigious college may end
up actually costing more money compared to an academically better
college where you will have to pay something.

When you get your application, fill it out carefully. Do not write it by
hand; type it or, as more and more schools now have available, fill it
out on line. (Most schools that have on-line applications prefer that
they be used by applicants.) Make sure you do not use too many
contractions or sentences such as "I fence good." and that your
application makes the best possible impression for you. When it's
finished, photo copy every page or print out every page if it is on the
computer so you have a copy of what you send in. With thousands and
thousands of applications coming into the Admissions Office, some are
bound to get lost. You will not want to rewrite an entire application.
Follow up with the high school teachers you have asked to write
recommendations to ensure that they are submitted on time.

What part does the coach play in the application process? The coach will
be a source of information for you as well as a source of information
about you to the Admission Office. What the coach says about you may
greatly influence the school's decision about your acceptance. How the
coach deals with you will very likely influence your decision about
whether or not you want to be accepted.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has many strict
rules on how to treat a recruit. Each year, college coaches even have to
take an examination administered by the NCAA on these rules. If a coach
breaks theses rules in dealing with you, you should probably question
yourself as to whether or not you want to spend four years with such an
unethical person. For information from the NCAA about the process of
being recruited and what you will need to do to fence in college, use
this link:
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/eligibility-recruiting/index.htm\
l

Here are but a few examples of what, unfortunately, actually goes on:

You're a high school junior at the Junior Olympic Championships. A
person comes up to you and says "You know, you should apply early
decision to Just Herculean University: it's the only way I can be sure
you'll get in. When I, Doug Omniscient, the wonder coach, tell the
Admissions Office that you're definitely coming, they'll be sure to let
you in. Otherwise....."

It is against the rules for someone to be recruited before July 1 after
the completion of their junior year of high school. It is also a common
ploy to tell an unsuspecting recruit that a commitment is the only way
that a person can get in - this is almost always used unduly as a means
to pressure the recruit.

You're a high school sophomore at a Cadet/Junior North American Circuit
A person come up to you between rounds and says "Hi, I'm Don
Magnificent, coach of the University of Perfection, and I think you
should come to my university after high school."

Not only is this person too young to recruit but the coach is
specifically prohibited from recruiting someone during a competition
while the fencer is still in uniform. Actually, it is also very
inconsiderate of a coach to do this - the fencer should be allowed to
concentrate on his or her fencing at such a time. A good coach would
never interrupt like this.

You're a high school senior sitting at home. Gerry Kudos of Culmination
University calls to say "You really don't want to go to Perfectly
Splendid University; you'll never get enough lessons there. And, that
city is really unsafe."

"Negative recruiting" is truly dishonorable.

You're a high school senior between rounds at a North American Open
Circuit. Edith Kingpin, coach at Nossomos State, tells you 1) you'll
definitely start if you come to Nossomos State, 2) she'll make you a
champion, and 3) you'll never become any good anywhere else.

Ask yourself questions about this team and this coach. If you're told
that you will definitely start, how many other fencers are told the same
thing...or is this really a weak team. If the coach is so egocentric
that she believes only she can make you a champion, maybe this coach
doesn't realize that it will be you who gets on the strip to fence and
not she. And you should never be recruited during a competition.

Most coaches do not break the rules, but all too many do. Be aware. The
rules are such that a coach must, during certain times of the year
(called "black out" or "dead" periods), not even speak with you if you
call or stop by for a visit. The rules prohibit the coach from giving
you a pencil with the school's name on it, much less a team t-shirt.
Most rules were written to protect you, the recruit, from inordinate and
improper recruiting.

If you are to be on an NCAA Fencing Team, you will have to be approved
by the NCAA Clearing House. During your Senior year in High School,
start this process by going to this web page:
http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/common/index.html.

After all the letters of acceptance, and rejection, have been received,
when you have finally made your decision, write a note to all of the
coaches you contacted, letting them know where you will be going and
letting them know you appreciate their efforts.