Is it a mistake to wait until April to sign?

Wait.

Later offers will get better.

You've outlined the choices exactly. If you came here looking for a magic answer that eliminates consequence, it won't happen.

Don't attend a school you can't afford.

If you want to wait for a better offer, then wait. No guarantee it will come, but it is your choice and your consequence, and your college experience.

If you've found a place you love that has made an acceptable offer, then sit with your family and make a mature decision.

You are in control of your college decision process. It is your timetable, your set of criteria, and ultimately your choice.

What is a coach supposed to tell you "No, the offer has no chance of changing." Would that make you feel better or worse? The answer to that question is the reason why the coach said what they said.

In MOST cases, you will probably be better off waiting until April. If you're not completely happy with the choices in front of you, odds are that you'll have more choices in the spring.

Thing is, there's a small but nonzero chance that things will go in the other direction, and you'll be way more limited. That's the big risk you take by waiting. Odds are in your favor but it doesn't mean that the one in ten chance can't happen.

If you are good enough to individually qualify for NXN your offers will go up. If you are not then you may lose money but probably not that much. I need track times to give you more of an opinion.

Top 20 in the mile.

Top 40 in the 800.

Your offers will probably be better in the spring, but maybe not from certain schools. I try and fill everyone I can (distance wise) in the early period. If I do that, I don't have money to sign anyone in the spring. If I don't do that, I'm willing to pay more than I was in the fall for the same level of kid.

If a school you want to attend made you a reasonable offer, I would take it, because it might not exist after early signing day. If you just want the most money possible, and you don't care where, wait until the spring.

If you want a certain school to increase their offer, you are gambling on them not signing other people at your level, for the same money they offered you.

Totally disagree...

I signed early, best decision of my life.

Wasn't totally happy with the school, but money was there and I was able to have zero stress in my senior year of track (Ended up going AA at New Balance-yes I understand it's not Brooks).

Also every bad race you have (and yes, as you already know, THEY HAPPEN) will not feel as if the world is ending as you speak, or run.

Seriously, that was the biggest key to an enjoyable end to HS. Take a look if there truly will be an increase in the scholarship and if you are smart you can easily get that money with a couple local scholarships (if you're not smart get off the message board and study).

Only regret is that I didn't go Ivy-so if that's an option I would do that above anything else (Besides another school of academic prestige Stanford, MIT, Michigan, and others).

All of what people have said here matters but you are good enough to get into a school with at least a part-time deal. Maybe it might be better to go DIII and get academic money. I do not know your situation with that.

However some DIII schools will give money based on need and/or academics but they are really giving it to someone who is also an athlete.

If DI is your preferred choice then times and performances may be important.

Are you comfortable with that?

If it's a matter of choosing between two offers you could use the list evaluation.

Take a piece of paper and put a line down the middle. On top put the name of each school or offer. Then put down the pluses and minuses for each school.

At least that way you have thought about it in an organized way.

PPatience wrote:

Top 20 in the mile.

Top 40 in the 800.

In this case you probably do not have too much competition to take your scholarship money. Just remember that all of these schools have a budget and to add on that these scholarships are evaluated on a yearly basis which is something I was not told when I was a senior in HS. I was fortunate to have a coach who would not change the amount of scholarship unless you were literally not trying. I also chose D2 for a point of reference(mostly for the money). My D1 friends experience has been very different from mine.

As far as waiting too long or too early I signed as early as possible because my mind was made up. I also knew I had a good amount of similarly talented competition for my scholarship. On the other hand I know guys who have signed late into may and june and loved every second of their schooling situation.

There are only two seniors in the country so far this year who have not yet committed and who meet the criteria you state, and unless you are not telling the truth or using some time trial or time in a relay, I have a pretty good idea who you are, but I won't share because that's not something I need to do.

With your times, you are definitely a desirable signee, but you are correct in stating that you are not the top of the top. The fact is that you do risk not having a spot for you at a given school if you wait. If you find a school you want to go to and you know that's the one, then you should do it if you can afford to go there. Quibbling over a couple thousand dollars a year is silly. If you are unhappy with the offer, tell them what you would really want. They might give it to you or do a compromise.

Solid advice. Thx.

This post kills me "someone who knows". What if top 20/40 mean out of eligible seniors not all runners. Better yet what if he is a she.