Tips For Athletes

how to pick university

ACADEMICS

  • Does the college offer my area of interest?
  • Does the college offer a wide range of majors if I don’t know what I want to major in?
  • Does the college fit my academic ability?
  • What type of academic support will you receive? Tutors, mentors, support staff, are professors understanding of you being an athlete, etc.

LOCATION

  • What size of college are you going to excel at?

Volleyball

  • What are you looking for in a volleyball program? What level of competition can you play at?
    • Junior College
    • NAIA
    • NCAA III
    • NCAA II
    • NCAA I
  • Do you want to play as a freshman or can you wait a couple of years?
  • What type of scholarship are you looking for?
  • What type of coaching staff do you want to play for?

HOW A SCHOOL PICKS YOU

ACADEMICS

  • Can you be successful academically at this college?

LOCATION

  • Do you play a position that the college is recruiting that year?

    • Athletic Ability vs. Skill
    • Attitude & Work Ethic
    • Character size of college are you going to excel at?

Volleyball

  • What are you looking for in a volleyball program? What level of competition can you play at?
    • Junior College
    • NAIA
    • NCAA III
    • NCAA II
    • NCAA I
  • Do you want to play as a freshman or can you wait a couple of years?
  • What type of scholarship are you looking for?
  • What type of coaching staff do you want to play for?

HOW A SCHOOL PICKS YOU

Freshman Year

  • Develop a list of colleges that fit your criteria (20).
    • Send club schedule to colleges

    • Attend college matches to see the style of play and how coaches work in matches

    • Send a post card or e-mail to colleges a week before attending major tournaments (National Qualifiers, Regionals, etc.)

    • Attend college camps

    • Post information on: 

    • Check out:  

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SOPHOMORE YEAR

  • Send high school schedule to colleges
  •  Send club schedule to colleges
  •  Send a post card or e-mail to colleges a week before attending major tournaments (National Qualifiers, Regionals, etc.)
  •  Continue to attend college matches
  •  Visit campuses during the spring & summer – Unofficial Visits
  • Attend college camps
  • Update University Athlete website
  • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Take SAT/ACT one time and send to NCAA

Start to look at the requirements needed to play in college

Get on phone with coaches and develop a relationship, this shows interest and helps a coach get a feel for who you are off of the court. CHARACTER is huge these days with early recruiting!! 

JUNIOR YEAR

  • Send high school schedule to colleges
  • Have an e-mail account and check it regularly
  • Continue to take Unofficial Visits during the summer and throughout the year
  • Begin to narrow your list of colleges
  • Attend college camps of schools on your short list

Senior YEAR

  • Send high school schedule to colleges
  • Take Official Visits (maximum of 5 visits)
  • Sign National Letter of Intent
  • Send Club Schedule to colleges
  • Update University Athlete website

Always encourage your kids to use their resources and while competing in tournaments near other colleges to visit their campus. Don't need to meet with coach per say but this gives them the opportunity to see other colleges of different sizes, locations while already in the area... saves money and time.

Start the process early rather than later. With the way recruiting is, a lot of college programs offer scholarships out by the beginning of Junior year and have kids commit. 

recruiting process checklist