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This is the time of the year that I get the most emails and DMs from parents and players about what they need to do to get that ball rolling on their recruiting. Whether they are varsity players finishing up their sophomore seasons or juniors about to embark on the final off-season of their high school career, they all have questions. There is the age-old myth that says, “if you’re good enough, the college coaches will find you.” Unfortunately, that is not a true statement across the board. Yes, there are coaches that will find almost every player. But a lot of those schools are Division III or non-scholarship programs. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with those programs, you will be paying tuition, or at least part of it, at those schools and they are some of the most expensive ones in the country.
There are five things you need to make sure you do to earn your scholarship offer. Here is the second of those five things: Finding The School That Fits You. And as always, if you have any questions feel free to email me at scvarsity@sc.rr.com or follow me and send me a direct message on twitter @scvarsity.
1. Location
You need decide where it is that you would like to attend school. Do you want to go to school close to home? Do you mind going somewhere where it may be difficult for family to get to you and your games? Are you the kind of guy that wants to go home on the weekends when you can? Proximity is something you need to factor in.
2. Level of Ability
Do you have the skill and talent to compete at the level that this school is competing at? Do you project well at that level? Do you understand what your projection is? Are you a Division II caliber athlete looking at Power Five schools? If that is the case, you are looking at the wrong place.
3. Academic Fit
Does the school you are going to have a good program in the field of study you are interested in? While I know that many 17 and 18 year old guys may not even know what field they want to go into, think about it. If you’re the guy that wants to go to medical school, what type of science or pre-med program does the school have? Same with Engineering; Business. Check out the school’s programs of study in the field you’re interested in and see if they first, offer it and second, have a good program.
4. Social and Community
Do you like the school? Do you like the community? I tell athletes all the time to take football out of the equation and ask yourself, if I were attending this school only as a student, could I live here for four years? If the answer is anything other than “absolutely”, you’re not looking at the right school. \
5. Financial
Does the school you like offer scholarships and if they are sub Division I, are those scholarships divided? Or is it going to be necessary for you to get full money? If so, does the school offering you the financial package have the program of study you are interested in? If not, well, you better rethink this thing. The one thing I know for certain is that football will end for every single one of you. It always does. There is a lot more of life on the other side of football so make sure you choose the school wisely in relation to your career goals as a student and beyond.
Choosing the school is going to be one of the most important decisions you make in life. It is the place that is going to lead you to your first job and possibly the career path you follow; it is where you will meet the friends who will be your friends for life; it is the place you will most probably meet the person who will become your spouse. So do not take this decision lightly. Consider all these factors. Sit down and talk with your family together. Ultimately, it is your decision but make sure you get input from people who care about you.
And as always, if you have any questions feel free to email me at scvarsity@sc.rr.com or follow me and send me a direct message on twitter @scvarsity.
