The college recruiting process varies from athlete to athlete. With over 2,000 schools across the country that offer college sports and scholarships, the first place to start is all too often the second or third on the list. While many young athletes eye million dollar salaries and high-profile lifestyles, the truth is, few make it to the professional level – most do not. So, before a young athlete and their family look at a school’s athletic program, they should first and foremost look at its academic and social atmosphere. If an athlete is only going to a school for their athletic program they are making a huge mistake.
According
to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, fewer than 3 percent
of college athletes turn pro. This means that only 3 out of 100 college
athletes will go to the big leagues. With this in mind, it is important
to look at what the school offers beyond athletics.
Key Questions to Ask About Schools Academics and Environment:
• Where in the country do I want to be? North, South,
East, or West. • How close to home do I want to be? • How big of a school I am looking for? Schools range from 3,000-45,000 undergraduate students. • Do I want to be in a big city or a college town? This makes the college experience very different. • What do I want to study? Find a school that offers a major tailored toward your interests. There should be a nice size list of schools that fit
the family’s preferences in terms of academics and social environment.
Now it is appropriate to navigate the school’s athletic program. Here are some basic questions to ask when looking into a school’s athletic program:
• How much can we afford to pay for college? There is a
lot of scholarship money out there; and, if needed, can play a big role in what options you have. • What are the coach and assistant coaches like? Knowing the coaches is very important in picking a school to play athletics. It is also a very good possibility the coaches that recruited you will not be there for all 4 years. • What are the athletes on the team like? Knowing the atmosphere on the team is very important. • How will I fit in with the team? • What is the budget for the athletic department? The more money the athletic department has the better they will treat the athletes. After the athlete and his/her family has narrowed down
the list to the schools that fit their academic, social and athletic
criteria, its time to send a letter to the chosen school’s coaches.
College coaches always determine your market value as an athlete, and
if your letter is a cut above the rest; they may offer an athlete a
roster spot or financial aide. Because college coaches receive
thousands of letters each month, it is important to have a well-groomed
resume. There are many factors that go into college recruiting
process and the above is a general way to start. Stay tuned to North
County Sports for more in – depth information on scholarships for
athletes and college recruiting.
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