While some college-bound student-athletes seem to have the next five years planned out; they know exactly what they want to major in, the schools they’re interested in and how they’ll get there, this isn’t the reality for most student-athletes. And that’s OK.
No one expects you to have all the answers in high school, and this is especially true when it comes to recruiting for college athletics. Many athletes are uncertain whether they want to continue their sport in college. It’s a huge commitment that impacts your entire college experience. So, to help you decide if being a college-athlete is the right choice for you, here are some helpful tips.
Visit local college to experience college-level competition
A great way to experience college-level competition is watch athletes compete. Identify a few local colleges that are different division levels and visit them for a weekend to watch a game or event. During the competition, make note of things like the size, speed and skill sets of the athletes, and if there are athletes on the team that you’ve competed with or against. While you’re on campus, look around and identify some of the characteristics you like about the school, such as classroom size and dorm life, and what you don’t like, to get a better sense of what you’re looking for in a school.
Reach out to former and current college athletes
There’s no better way to learn about what it’s like to compete at the college level than to ask a current college athlete or someone who compete for their college in the past. High school athletes likely know former classmates who committed to college athletics that they can reach out to and ask for their opinion. Athlete should prepare a list of questions, asking about their daily routine, recruiting experience, free time, offseason and classes, to make the most of your time.
Get a third-party evaluation
Making this decision isn’t just about whether the athlete wants to play at the college level, you also have to considered whether the you have the skillset needed to compete for a college team. Student-athletes should get an unbiased third-party to evaluate their skill level and discuss what division you’d fit into athletically. This information can help you determine a list of target schools. High school and club coaches are great third-party resources that can easily provide this evaluation because they’ve seen the student-athlete compete and they likely have relationships with college coaches.
