Added Time: Our Monthly College Search Newsletter

December Update:

Thinking About Being a Varsity Athlete in College

One of the demonstrably terrible, zombie ideas in the world of collegiate counseling and advising is that “you really need to be sure you want to play in college before you start exploring athletic recruiting.” Today we’re going to discuss WHY this is terrible advice and what a better approach might look like as you approach your future in college and – maybe – in intercollegiate athletics.

Normally people do NOT tell their students, “your planning and decision making will be better if you do it without any research” but telling kids they need to be certain about playing sports BEFORE they explore their options is EXACTLY that advice. If you are enjoying playing your sport in high school, the smart approach to college admissions REGARDLESS of how interested you are in playing in college, is to reach out to coaches and get their assessment of your ”fit” at their institutions. Just engaging with college coaches can get you access to a far more detailed look at any given college than you will get interacting strictly with admissions. It can ALSO facilitate interacting with current students at a school, giving you even more insight into your fit and what the student experience really is. I always tell advisees to really look at students on a given campus… do you want to grow up and look like them? Because after four years on that campus, you will!

Coaches also have the ability to do something almost no one else can. They can walk into an admissions office and get an answer to the question, “is this student admissible?” And they can share that answer with you! Seems relevant to anyone aspiring to college! That does not mean they WILL do this for you, but if they believe you might help their program, coaches will – and even in preliminary discussions their inside knowledge of what their admissions office is looking for can be enlightening! And there is not anyone else… not your high school coach, not your club coach, not your private coach, not that uncle who played at State back in the day who can definitively tell you that you can play at a given school – given that they respond to emails and calls (and they can answer questions any time – even before they are allowed to “recruit” you)… why not reach out and actually ask?

Coaches and current students can also help you understand what the cost/benefit deal is to be a varsity athlete AT THAT SCHOOL. I mean, you could just read clickbait on the internet, but why not really listen to the people living that life before you decide one way or other whether it’s right for you? You will find that college athletes at every level are (and are not) elite and take their sport very seriously, and you will understand how college training environments are different from your own and each other! But don’t take my word for it! ASK THEM!

Armed with insight and knowledge from current student-athletes and the college coaches who will be making decisions about where you can possibly play, you are NOW ready to think about what is best for your future! And what more could any student, parent, or educator really want going into a major life decision?

As always, if you are looking for the individualized or institutional consulting help that puts you ahead of your peers, check out our services here! You can make an initial appointment through the link on our homepage! School administrators and counselors access our free resources, appointments and programs for school collaboration here.

For more information, contact Dave Morris, College Counselor & CEO, College Athletic Advisor, [email protected] or phone: (719) 248-7994

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