Higher Profile Division l Athlete, Stressed Out About Transferring Again

Sounds like running isn’t working for ya.

Have you considered giving up on running and focusing on academics?

What is your major?

Addison DeHaven started at Wisconsin, transferred to Boise State (where he was a 2x All-American), and then finished his eligibility at Iowa State for graduate school (where they podium'd). Doesn't happen often, but it happens.

you're overly worried. nobody outside of your close friends and family will really care about it. do what you got to do and don't sweat it.

Gessner?

Run4Run wrote:

Put higher profile to indicate where my success was in the past, not currently.

Did well on a National Level (XC) in High School, and have already transferred from a MAJOR Division l program to another MAJOR Division 1 program.

I am currently thinking about switching again for my Grad Year.

Extremely stressed, worried, depressed, about having to switch for a second time and what the recruitment process will be since I have already transferred, and not lived up to my high school "status."

Anyone go through a similar process, or know of anyone who did? Would the coaches discriminate? Am I overly worried?

Cameron Echols-Luper started at TCU, transferred to Arkansas State, finished as a graduate student at Western Kentucky. He was both a track guy and a football player. Had his best year at WKU, currently playing in Canada.

Isabella Marten - SMU to Cal to USC.

No need to stress, just gather info, asses and make a decision.

Like anyone, once you enter the portal don't count on a scholarship for next year at your current institution. Since you are graduating (and it seems like you have struggled) your current coach may not have extended a scholarship for you for next year anyway, so this may not be what is stressing you.

After four years of college some coaches may be optimistic with what you can accomplish, but they will base any offer they make on what you have done the past year or so. If you have not scored decent track points for your current P5 school do not expect another school from one of the other four P5 conferences to offer you anything. A lot won't even take a walk-on grad transfer if they don't see them at least making the top 7 in XC. But also know that a 15th ranked performance in a P5 conference may rate very highly in a smaller DI conference.

If you are looking to transfer and want a large (50% or more) scholarship at your new school, find grad programs that have your degree and compete in conferences where your college times would rank in the top 3. If you are OK with a partial scholarship for grad school look at conferences where you would be ranked 5-10th in track events and/or can definitely be among the top 5 XC athletes on the team.

A lot of coaches like recruiting grad transfers. They have experience and know what it takes to run in college and they are largely known entities. At the same time grad transfers are not long term projects. They can boost a program quickly, but there is no projections on future performance when a scholarship offer is made.

I think I am most worried about a school not recruiting me based on my school saying I am not worth my grad degree years there, since I am listed as a "bust" so far? Is that possible?

Some programs may be hesitant to extend a hand, but just look for a place that is a good all-around fit for you. A "bust" today was brilliant yesterday and can be tomorrow, too.

Run4Run wrote:

I think I am most worried about a school not recruiting me based on my school saying I am not worth my grad degree years there, since I am listed as a "bust" so far? Is that possible?

If this is your worry you just need to be realistic. If you were a prep standout who has struggled and stalled at the highest level of collegiate competition, you still have likely put down times over your college career that would make you a top three XC athlete for a lot of mid major programs (or even non DI programs) who would recruit and offer you a scholarship.

If you are very much set going to a grad program and running at a major university, then just email the coach about walking on. If you were very good a few years back many will take you on and work with you if you are willing to run for free.

As far as your worry about you current school black balling you...coaches will talk, but they also know even good athletes and good coaches don't mesh. A recruiting coach will know you are leaving due to lack of performance and frustration...it happens. It will be a non starter for some but you will likely get interest.

If this is your worry you just need to be realistic. If you were a prep standout who has struggled and stalled at the highest level of collegiate competition, you still have likely put down times over your college career that would make you a top three XC athlete for a lot of mid major programs (or even non DI programs). There are likely many programs who would recruit and offer you, maybe just not Power 5 teams.

If you are very much set going to a grad program and running at a major university, then just email the coach about walking on. If you were very good a few years back many will take you on and work with you if you are willing to run for free.

As far as your worry about you current school black balling you...coaches will talk, but they also know even good athletes and good coaches don't always mesh. A recruiting coach will know you are leaving due to lack of performance and frustration...it happens. It will be a non starter for some but you will likely get interest from others.

Go to a good d2 school. Less pressure and can hopefully finish career off on a good team and with some All-Americans

Seriously, unless you are anywhere close to going pro or qualifying for the Olympics, you should be worrying more about what your degree is in and how you are going to excel in a career for the next 40 years of your life. Nothing wrong with also looking for a good running fit, but that shouldn’t be your primary concern. And don’t think that just because you were a high school phenom that it should automatically translate to college success. People who end up at 3-4 schools searching for the holy grail either aren’t as good as they think, or they have very poor decision making criteria when they assess a program.

The problem is probably you and not the programs you are going to. Quit blaming everyone else and look at yourself.

Run4Run wrote:

Put higher profile to indicate where my success was in the past, not currently.

Did well on a National Level (XC) in High School, and have already transferred from a MAJOR Division l program to another MAJOR Division 1 program.

I am currently thinking about switching again for my Grad Year.

Extremely stressed, worried, depressed, about having to switch for a second time and what the recruitment process will be since I have already transferred, and not lived up to my high school "status."

Anyone go through a similar process, or know of anyone who did? Would the coaches discriminate? Am I overly worried?

Female? Sounds like a typical college slump. If you're very healthy you should actually do better now that you're getting older.

But tbh the most important thing is grad school, focus on the program you want first, and then see if you can line that up with running. Some coaches prefer to have more mature runners around to help foster more mature team atmosphere.

Sam Man wrote:Seriously, unless you are anywhere close to going pro or qualifying for the Olympics, you should be worrying more about what your degree is in and how you are going to excel in a career for the next 40 years of your life. Nothing wrong with also looking for a good running fit, but that shouldn’t be your primary concern.

What this guy said! I would focus more on the grad school program that you want to do.

Ryan robinson?

Is that really the process for grad transfers? I thought the process was different for them. Aren't they free to talk to other coaches during senior year of school? The process always allowed grad students to transfer at will. The new process started last year that utilizes the transfer portal is to make it easier for undergrads to transfer without permission from their current school.

Quit blaming the programs you go to wrote:

The problem is probably you and not the programs you are going to. Quit blaming everyone else and look at yourself.

Huh? OP didn’t blame my programs in the post.