COLLEGE RECRUITING PROCESS
The College Recruitment Process
As a high school athlete you may: Write or call college coaches as much as you want. Note Coaches may not return your calls to discuss recruiting information until July 1 after your junior year. Visit college campuses at your own expense as often as you want. A College Coach may: Start sending you written recruiting materials beginning Sept. 1 of your junior year of HS. Start calling you beginning July 1 after your junior year of HS. Make a home visit no earlier than July1 after your junior year of HS. Allow you to have an official campus paid visit after your senior classes of HS have started. Must apply if you plan on playing D1 or D2. There is an application fee. Apply after your first semester grades have been posted in your junior year of HS. Athletic Scholarships Division I institutions provide up to the maximum allowable scholarships in all the sports they sponsor. A fully funded DI institution has 12 full scholarships available. Division II institutions provide both full and partial athletic scholarships to a lesser amount than DI. Division III institutions do not provide any scholarships based on athletic ability but do offer academic scholarships/grants. College Recruitment Time Line: BE PROACTIVE! Freshman Year- Start working on your softball resume – play club all year round along with your High School team also if you wish start getting involved in ODP. Sophomore Year- Start visiting colleges, meet coaches and have a list of 25 schools that interest you. Attend a college camp. Have a 1 page concise biography listing your accomplishments, academic profile, academic interest, contact info- email, projected playing schedule. Letter should be personal. Junior Year- Narrow down your list to 10-12 schools, inform coaches of your interest and when you will be playing. Attend the camp to get to know the coach and school better. Start narrowing down to schools you wish to attend. You might be ready to make a decision or a verbal commitment. Senior Year- Take Official Visit if you want (5 max for DI). You should be ready to make a decision by Christmas at the latest, if not earlier. Check out scholarships and other need based aid – worry about this last. Look for the right school and worry about money last! Exposure Play travel and High School- Play as many tournaments as possible and play in showcases to get looks from college coaches. Make a DVD or Y-Tube video and send it to a coach- this speeds up the process if you cannot be seen |
|