Advice to the College Bound Student Athlete
The process of becoming a recruited college student-athlete is a touch one. It takes a great deal of time and organization. Remember, athletics can be a significant enhancement to your application. Recruited athletes, though not guaranteed admission, have an extra variable in their favor in the application process.
The same characteristics that have made you an athletic success can lead to success in the recruitment process: Be aggressive, plan well, be organized.
Keep in mind that in the application process, you are a student first, and an athlete after that.:
- You should first and foremost follow the regular selection process for all students. You cannot rely on coaches to “fast-track” your application, nor can you count on them to submit your application for you.
- Athletics will assist you in the process only AFTER you have applied.
- Keep in mind that if you do not make the team at DHS, you will want to have the regular application process started.
There are different divisions, and different conferences at play in this process.
You can consider:
- NCAA Division I
- NCAA Division II
- NCAA Division III (non-scholarship)
- Ivy League
- New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) serves as a regulator of college athletics. There is a wealth of information available at www.ncaa.org, including:
- Which colleges sponsor which sports
- Eligibility rules
- The process for determining initial eligibility
- Recruiting rules
- FAQ’S
Student-athletes are required to file with the NCAA Clearinghouse to determine their college eligibility. Students should file as soon as the summer before senior year, but it is possible to file later.
The student is responsible for starting the process of becoming a recruited student-athlete.
- The student recruits
- The student contacts coaches
- The student does all follow-up
- The student evaluates options
The recruiting process is intricate
- It is confusing
- It is not a science—it is inexact
- If you wait to be “discovered,” you will NOT be discovered
- Your best resource to keep informed is www.ncaa.org.
- Do not rely on college coaches to lead you through this process
In order to begin this process, you must first evaluate colleges
- Start with the list of colleges you generate (with counselor assistance, using Naviance or another program)
- Decide which factors (athletic and academic) are most important for you
- Create a “decision chart” with a list of positives and negatives for each college/athletic program
- Follow up all of your coach and player contacts
- Remember, without a letter from the coach/college, you have nothing—no promise of admission or place on the team