If you've always dreamed about competing in college athletics, your dream may be within reach. But, you need more than athletic talent...you need to know how to "connect" with appropriate colleges. Be realistic. Not many high school athletes can play basketball at Florida or football at USC. To find out where you might be able to play, speak with your coach and other objective adults. Then, take your list to your counselor to see which colleges are a good academic fit for you and to see if there are others you might want to consider as well. Whatever you do, don't weigh athletics too heavily. Academics should always come first...always. Size, location, campus environment, special programs, and other factors should be considered as well. Try to find the "ideal" college for you, not just a place where you can compete in athletics. Don't make the mistake of failing to consider colleges you haven't heard much about. Until recently, the Rutgers and Louisville football programs attracted no national attention, but look at them now. Have you ever heard of Mount Union? They have a pretty good football program too. Kenyon, a great academic school, has built a dynasty in swimming and diving, Hobart has great lacrosse, and lots of much bigger schools envy the record of little Hartwick College in soccer. And, have you heard about the "giant killer" softball and baseball teams at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette? There are dozens of examples like these. There are many kinds of scholarships and financial aid other than athletic scholarships. And, there are lots of good colleges with excellent athletic programs at levels other than NCAA Division I. Keep in mind that the primary benefit of college is education. And, know that there are some coaches out there who care more about athletic performance than what you do in the classroom. If you encounter one, avoid him or her at all costs. Be sure you learn the rules governing athletic recruiting. And, be certain you and the college coaches with whom you come into contact adhere to them strictly. Go to your high school coach if you have questions or concerns. Don't just reach out to coaches...get information from admissions offices as well. Admissions counselors are allowed to contact and speak with you at any time; coaches have restrictions. And, admissions counselors will often provide you with college publications and information you might not get from coaches. Don't make the mistake of ruling out colleges in your initial research because of their listed costs. Frequently, students out-of-pocket costs are far lower. Don't panic if coaches don't immediately reply to an initial letter or email from you. Wait a month, and try again. Remember that some coaches get a lot of mail, and that they are especially busy just before and in season. Some coaches may never get back to you...at least you'll know where you stand with them, right? Even if a coach does respond to you, it does not mean his/her level of interest in you is high. Some coaches (or their secretaries) put everybody who contacts them on a list to receive communication in the interest of being polite or because they feel they have nothing to lose. Many coaches even have a list of student-athletes that are second third, and lower choices; students to be recruited only until those higher on their lists sign a letter of intent. With that in mind, your best bet is to keep all options open by communicating with every coach who may be interested in you until you have a firm, final offer. After you have commited to a college or university, send an email or letter thanking the coaches who showed some level of interest in you. Not only is it good manners, but it might help you if you later decide, for any reason, to transfer.
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If you've always dreamed about competing in college athletics, your dream may be within reach. But, you need more than athletic talent...you need to know how to "connect" with appropriate colleges.
Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, has also coached in two sports. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about how to get recruited by college coaches , and online colleges . Get your own completely unique content version of this article.
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