A Beginner's Guide to Athletic Recruitment
The college admissions process can be overwhelming for students. Attempting to become a recruited athlete makes it a whole different ball game. If you’re athletically gifted, you may have a chance of getting recruited by a college, but there is no guarantee. Recruitment is a two-way street, and you’re going to have to do some work on your end to make it happen. Here are a few things to consider when seeking athletic recruitment:
You’re not "recruited" until you receive an official offer. Athletic recruiters have thousands of candidates to consider. Often, recruiters send interest letters like colleges send brochures. They are trying to get you interested in them just in case they are interested in you. You can begin to feel as though you’re being jerked around a lot during this process. If you receive a letter or social media follow from a recruiter, don’t get too excited. It doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to be recruited, but it could be a start.
You may need to actively campaign for a recruiter’s attention. Again, recruiters have thousands of candidates to consider. At Ivy Link, we advise our students on strategies to gain a recruiter's attention. For example, talk to your high school coach to find colleges in which you’ll be a good fit for the team. Once you have one or more specific schools in mind, reach out to the recruiters. Send a resume of your athletic accomplishments along with a greatest hits video of your playing. Become familiar with the NCAA rules and timelines and register with the NCAA clearinghouse to make sure you’re eligible to play. Know when and how college coaches are allowed to communicate with you.
A good fit is everything. As with any college search, it’s important to make sure you’re a good fit for the team/college and that the team/college is a good fit for you. A college might have an amazing team where several players are recruited for professional sports or they win several games each season, but if the team isn’t a good fit for you, you’re never going to be able to really show off your skills or talent. Visit a variety of colleges that have a good team and see which one is the best for you.
Complete your regular college applications! This is a big one. Sometimes a student is so confident they will be recruited that they don’t bother gathering and completing their regular college application materials. Oftentimes, recruiters will court a student athlete that they like, even if that student is unlikely to ultimately receive an offer. Coaches can also change their mind at any time before an offer is made, or, as is often the case, their offers to you are subject to the final say by the college admissions office. Perhaps your grades begin to slip, or they find a better athlete at the last minute. If you don’t have a back-up plan, which involves having your college applications ready to send out, then you’ll be stuck without a college, possibly delaying your plans for another year.
Just because you’re an athlete doesn’t mean that grades don’t matter. We are all familiar with the stereotype of high school students with bad grades but great athletic abilities who are given a full ride to a top school. But life isn’t a teen movie. The truth is: you're still applying to college, and grades do matter. Many schools, especially top colleges, have a GPA requirement and minimum ACT/SAT scores. Coaches only have so much power if the admissions offices don't want you. Make sure you study just as hard as you play so that you have the grades/scores to impress colleges without the athletic ability. This will greatly increase your chances of admission.
An athletic scholarship doesn’t mean free education. While free rides do exist, theoretically, many athletic scholarships don’t cover the full cost of college. The amount of the scholarship correlates with what Division the school is. For example, Division III schools don’t offer athletic scholarships at all and instead may offer academic scholarships based on merit. So you can still play for the team, but you won’t receive the benefits of those playing for Division I schools. Have a financial back-up plan ready in case you’re not offered a full ride, and make sure you have your financial aid materials ready when you apply to a school.
While this list is not comprehensive, we hope it can help you and your student start planning for the recruitment process. For personalized guidance, schedule a consultation below. Ivy Link works with athletes, as well as all “special talents” students (musicians, visual artists, etc.) to maximize their college admissions potential through strategic planning and direct application assistance.
