Post Graduate "PG" year for running

If you're not at 4:20/1:55 as a senior, taking a gap year to hit that time would be a waste. Just go to a cheap local school with a solid team and transfer out after your frosh or soph year.

I think you misunderstand a key recruiting tenant. The scholarship standards are based on junior year track times. The walk on standards can be achieved junior or senior years.

The other key tenant that you may be missing is that, even if hypothetically, you hit the recruiting standards this year (your senior year) AND you took a PG year, you're likely to get very little $.

The big $ are reserved for national caliber athletes. Case in point, my son runs at a D1 power conference. His buddy qualified for FL nats as a junior in HS. That's pretty elite--about 12 guys did that in 2015. He's getting about 1/6th the total cost of attendance as his scholarship.

So, while I understand your thought process and, if I were a coach, I'd be very interested in you, my recommendation would be to go to the school that's the best academic and economic fit. Don't take a gap year. If you're deciding between two schools, then look at running to break the tie.

Given that your grades are 'alright', I'd reiterate what another poster said. Go to a school to run, kick arse, then transfer to a better academic and athletic school.

Good luck!

What you said is correct not to mention insightful - solid advice. However, if this girl blows away those standards, they will make room for her by squeezing someone else. Scholarships are handed out one year at a time. It depends on the needs of the school, injuries, recruiting class.

Thanks to the info to both of you, especially Jimmy.

I am working my ass off this year, and will probably just see where I can maybe walk on last minute at a school I really want to go to. Or, just do exactly what you said.

Thanks