To help you get started, here are some tips and advice for the college recruiting process. According to Pierre Ingram gather academic and athletic information and organize it in an easily accessible format. You should also have SAT/ACT scores and your course schedule for the current and next year ready. In addition, you should have the dates of any planned future tests. Recruits should have their transcripts and SAT/ACT scores readily available at the time of their initial visit.
While the athletic and academic recruiting process for D3 schools is usually shorter, you’ll need to keep your records organized. A coach will probably get 100s of emails a month and you’ll have to sort through their list to find the right fit for your talents. To make the process easier for yourself, it’s helpful to organize your information early on, before the process starts. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, you can start comparing offers.
The first step in the recruiting process is to organize your academic and athletic information. If you’ve done your research and organized your academics in high school, you’ll be in a good position to speak to college coaches. While most Division 1 programs have solidified their recruiting classes by now, it’s still possible to find a roster spot during your senior year. To get more information about the athletic and academic processes for different colleges, try searching for information at Division 2 and NAIA levels. You can follow these programs on Twitter to stay informed on their announcements.
During the college recruiting process, you should make the most of the various resources available. Your profile-resume, video, and references are all critical pieces of the recruiting puzzle. If you don’t market yourself well, other student-athletes will have the chance to get the attention and recognition you deserve. College coaches expect that student-athletes should market themselves as well as their skills.
Social media is also an excellent tool for marketing yourself to coaches. Many coaches monitor their recruits’ social media activity, so keep yours clean. Avoid posting offensive content on social media. Instead, focus on posting positive and inspirational content that suggests your coachability. Volunteer in your community and put in extra work outside of your practices. Most importantly, be sure to get along well with your teachers and coaches. Make yourself look great on social media.
Visiting schools is a necessary part of the recruiting process. Although it may be fun to visit on “game day” with your favorite team, you may want to avoid this as there will probably be no chance of sitting down with a coach to discuss your goals. Also, keep in mind that you should have your guardian’s present and can answer any questions they may have.
During the college recruiting process, you should visit as many schools as possible. Many programs will host “Prospect Days” in the fall and give you the opportunity to check out the campus. These visits aren’t necessarily indicative of whether or not a school is interested in you. However, if you are visiting the school on your own, a visit can be a great opportunity to meet coaches and potential teammates.
During the college recruiting process, one of the steps you will likely face is signing a letter of intent (LOI). A Letter of Intent is a legally binding contract that commits the student-athlete to the university for at least one year. It also commits the student-athlete to accepting a specific athletic scholarship offered by the university. While it’s tempting to sign an LOI as soon as you receive an offer, it’s crucial that you fully understand the ramifications of this commitment before making any final decisions. Your coaches can help you through the process.
In order to get a letter of intent, a prospective student-athlete must be a high school senior and be qualified to attend the institution’s fall term. Depending on the circumstances, the NLI may be sent through the mail or through electronic correspondence. A prospective student-athlete has seven days from receipt of the NLI to sign the contract.
During the official visits, college coaches can make offers based on your athletic abilities, your personality, and your fit with their team. However, only a small number of recruits will be invited to an official visit. To maximize your chances of getting an offer, make the most of your visits. Make sure to limit your cell-phone usage, focus on the coach, and be engaged and attentive during your time with the team.
After visiting a college, follow up with a thank you note and explain why you enjoyed the visit. This way, you will stay on their minds throughout the recruiting process. Moreover, when a coach makes an offer, they will be more likely to accept it if it’s because they’ve seen your hard work. By following up on your visits, you’ll demonstrate your interest and make your future plans clear.
According to Pierre Ingram, while you are in college, you are still in the midst of the college recruiting process. Whether you are in the process of applying to college or are already in the college recruiting process, this is an important time to communicate with other schools. Here are some tips for getting offers from colleges during the recruiting process.
Once you have a list of potential schools, it’s time to prioritize them. Think about your athletic ability, academic level, and school preferences, and decide which 13 to 15 schools are the best fit for you. Make sure to prioritize these schools based on cost, program fit, and overall college experience. You should research the athletic and academic profiles of each school, and consult your guidance counselor and coaches.