Looking for advice on transferring as a graduate transfer

Enter the transfer portal and tell your coach the reason why u want to transfer.

You should have told your coach before you posted here.

What this tells us is that even "highly academic" and experienced college student-athletes still don't know right from wrong when it comes to having to have a mature conversation with a superior.

Coaches, this is the world we live in now. Our real pandemic is the lengths at which people will go to avoid responsibility and accountability.

Although not specifically stated, it appears that you intend to graduate from your current school this coming academic year (i.e. your intend to complete college this year).

First question: To you want to enter the workforce or earn a graduate degree?

Second question: If you want to earn a graduate degree, what type and in what subject matter?

Third question: Does your current school offer a graduate degree program that fits your interests?

Reality: No shame or apologies needed for going to graduate school at a different institution (most people do), and using your remaining eligibility there. You might even take the opportunity to step back on the level of competition and focus more on the studies. I would think a D3 program with the right graduate program might be a fun place to run out the "twilight" eligibility.

Reality: No shame or apologies needed for going to graduate school at a different institution (most people do), and using your remaining eligibility there. You might even take the opportunity to step back on the level of competition and focus more on the studies. I would think a D3 program with the right graduate program might be a fun place to run out the "twilight" eligibility.[/quote]

You can’t play a sport at a d3 in grad school unless you were attending a d3 school for undergrad.

But like others said definitely tell your coach now, they will appreciate that they can now plan on you not being on the team net year and they will not be mad that you are graduating and leaving (unless they suck and then it’s nice to know that too).

Your current coach will also likely have some insight on some programs that may be a good fit (they probably know you pretty well). But basically the quicker you get into the portal the better/more options you will have. With those times you may get a good chunk of money to some d2 schools if saving money on grad school is a thing you care about but depending on the grad program and your career aspersions paying for a more well known/higher ranked school may be important (I would say it’s 50/50 chance the school you went to matters depending on the career).

......................... wrote:

You should have told your coach before you posted here.

What this tells us is that even "highly academic" and experienced college student-athletes still don't know right from wrong when it comes to having to have a mature conversation with a superior.

Coaches, this is the world we live in now. Our real pandemic is the lengths at which people will go to avoid responsibility and accountability.

I'm not really sure what you're so upset about. I fully intend on having a conversation with my coach about this, I just want to make sure the time is right. I don't want to give too many details about my situation to preserve anonymity, but rest assured my coach doesn't really have much if any reason to expect me to stay at my current school for my fifth and sixth years, so its not as if I am leaving him high and dry.

high level wrote:

Reality: No shame or apologies needed for going to graduate school at a different institution (most people do), and using your remaining eligibility there. You might even take the opportunity to step back on the level of competition and focus more on the studies. I would think a D3 program with the right graduate program might be a fun place to run out the "twilight" eligibility.

You can’t play a sport at a d3 in grad school unless you were attending a d3 school for undergrad.

But like others said definitely tell your coach now, they will appreciate that they can now plan on you not being on the team net year and they will not be mad that you are graduating and leaving (unless they suck and then it’s nice to know that too).

Your current coach will also likely have some insight on some programs that may be a good fit (they probably know you pretty well). But basically the quicker you get into the portal the better/more options you will have. With those times you may get a good chunk of money to some d2 schools if saving money on grad school is a thing you care about but depending on the grad program and your career aspersions paying for a more well known/higher ranked school may be important (I would say it’s 50/50 chance the school you went to matters depending on the career).[/quote]

Thanks for the correction.

CrispyChicken wrote:

Although not specifically stated, it appears that you intend to graduate from your current school this coming academic year (i.e. your intend to complete college this year).

First question: To you want to enter the workforce or earn a graduate degree?

Second question: If you want to earn a graduate degree, what type and in what subject matter?

Third question: Does your current school offer a graduate degree program that fits your interests?

Reality: No shame or apologies needed for going to graduate school at a different institution (most people do), and using your remaining eligibility there. You might even take the opportunity to step back on the level of competition and focus more on the studies. I would think a D3 program with the right graduate program might be a fun place to run out the "twilight" eligibility.

Yes, to clarify I do fully intend on graduating from my current school at the end of this (my fourth) year.

First: I'm fairly sure I want to earn a graduate degree. I see my final two years of eligibility as an opportunity to continue doing what I love (running) while also potentially providing a way to pay for my graduate degree.

Second: Masters, related to architecture, sustainability, and/or urban planning

Third: No

I would go ahead and tell your coach now. My program has a rule that if you enter the portal you cant compete for the team anymore... so its best to get the conversation out of the way. I was not on athletic aid either, but secured a GA position that paid for my school, hence why I stayed at my power 5 school, and honestly.. it was the best decision for me. I got full rides to mid major D1 schools, but I knew I wanted to stay competitive and my coach gladly took me back. With our rule, I waited until outdoor to enter the poral and it was super stressful, but now I am in a situation where we have a younger team and I have more responsibilities to produce more than ever. I took that Ga opportunity as a blessing and grinded like I wasn't suppose to come back and its working out terrifically. Would love to answer more questions you have but I like to stay annon.

The process goes like this...

Enter the portal, get contacted or make contact with potential schools and then commit and sign.

Some things to think about: as some have said, entering the portal is automatic dismissal from some teams. Usually though, entering as a grad transfer has a lot of grace since academics and programs play a big role. It really depends on coach and program.

Also, your times don't rate at the P5 level as a scorer (I am sure you realize this). Most programs do not want grad transfers to walk on; they want them to contribute points on the track...immediately. You are not a prospect at your age and you will be evaluated at face value. If you want to stay P5 you are only going to get interest from teams at the bottom of the conference standings or as a cross country depth guy who the coaching staff will largely ignore in track season.

Outside of the P5 you could easily make some rosters as a top 5 XC runner and possibly attract small scholarships in conferences where 14:30ish consistently scores.

What I recommend: if you want to stay P5, stay put and never utter a word about the portal to your coach. Apply for programs at your current school. If you are open to other conferences then tell the coach you want to transfer to a different grad school for academic reasons and will give it everything you have, this year, while you are still past of the program. Reach out to schools with a strong departments in your intended major in the mid major conferences.