Many times I hear families decide to look at a school because their son or daughter received a letter from a college coach. Even though the school doesn’t have the students major or geographically doesn’t fit. I understand kids want to get recruited, but I strongly suggest you create a school list based off academics first, then athletics.
When your son or daughter decides they want to try and play their sport at the college level, it’s best to have plan in place. The title of this article, “The Vehicle of Choice” is how you should use your sport to get where you want to go. I would recommend looking at colleges in varoius ways, including:
1. Trying to receive an athletic scholarship-while most families hope for this for obvious reasons, it’t difficult to obtain. I urge that you look at this realistically to see if you truly will have an opportunity to do so. Also, talk to either a local athlete that played at the scholarship level to see what type of commitment is needed or a DI or DII coach.
2. Play at the highest level-many kids only care if they “play” at the DI or DII level. What if that means being a walk on? Or worse, not making the team? Don’t pass up DIII opportunities and bank on playing at a higher level .
3.Play at any level- if you truly want to play, you might want to look to play down a level. Not saying you shouldn’t shoot for the highest level if that’s what you want. However, when it comes down to making a decision, really think do I definitely want to play or maybe play when I’m a junior or a senior?
4. Get into the best academic school possible-if you are truly a re