Did you know, approximately 7% (1 in 13) high school athletes go on to play a college sport?

Did you know that less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 53!) participate in NCAA Division I athletics?

Believe me, I’m not giving you these statistics to scare you away from chasing your dreams. I am sharing these because there is a LOT that goes into being a college athlete and finding the right academic and athletic fit for you. 

As a former college athlete and a former college coach, I’ve been fortunate to be on both sides of the experience as the recruit and the recruiter. From almost a decade worth of experience in the college athletics world, I have compiled my top 3 tips and observations for the future college athlete:

1) Athletic scholarships are great, but they are not the end-all-be-all. 

Chances are if you’ve tuned into an Estrela webinar, you’ve heard one of us explain that a merit scholarship is money that you get for being awesome at something. This is definitely the case with athletic scholarships. You earn money because you’re awesome at your particular sport! For many students and their families, the scholarship offer is a big part of the decision process. 

But do not let this be the BIGGEST part of the decision. Do not let the allure of scholarship dollars blind you to obvious no-brainers regarding fit like: 

Do they have my major?

Do I like the campus/location/size?

Would I like to play for this coach and do I jibe with the players on the team?

And my top litmus test:

If (my sport) was no longer an option here, would I still love it or be happy here?

2) You don’t have to be a Division I athlete.

There, I said it. Believe me - coming from a former NCAA Division III athlete and coach - the “smaller divisions” can PLAY. Remember, almost all of the players on teams at D2 and D3 or NAIA schools were also the best players on their high school or club teams (just like you!). Seriously, go catch a Division II or Division III game - these athletes are the real deal.

Chances are they chose their particular school because of FIT. These students wanted to be able to pursue highly academic programs, or study abroad, or do co-ops or internships - or maybe they loved the size of the school, or the location of the campus, or distance from home. 

When deciding if you want to play in college, or deciding where - start with your academic interests and what is important to you with fit. Create a list of schools that meet your needs as a student first, and an athlete second. Remember - you are only an injury away from “retirement”, or maybe you will want to pursue a different path at college (student life, study abroad, internships, etc). You don’t want to feel like your sport is your job and you have no other options.

3) Ask questions!

If you get an opportunity to meet with the coach and the team, be prepared to ask questions! Not questions like, “who is your uniform and shoe sponsor?”, or “are you taking any team trips this year?” (although yes, these are very fun questions to ask...) - but get the real scoop.

Ask for some one-on-one time with the members of the team. No one is going to give it to you straight like the team. You’ll hear about the coach’s quirks, the schedule, the team dynamic - the good, the bad, the ugly. They aren’t going to tell you that while the coach is standing there so see if you can get a meal with a few of your potential teammates, or do an overnight visit in the dorm. 

Also, ask the coach pointed questions like:

• Where do you see me as a member of this program? (If they tell you that you are going to be a starter and the best player on the team I advise you to RUN...unless you are the second coming of LeBron James). 
• What is a day in the life as a student-athlete? BE SPECIFIC!
• What is your expectation academically? (Study tables, tutoring, minimum GPA, night class scheduling, missing class for travel)
• Is there any type of fundraising for gear, travel, etc? (This is actually very common!)
• If on scholarship, what is the criteria to maintain scholarship? *Reminder - most scholarships are “one year non-renewable” - meaning that if a new coach is hired, you get injured, or you have a disciplinary issue - they DON’T honor your scholarship!*

If you have put in the dedication and work, you have the skills to contribute, and you have an open mind - I assure you that you will find the right college academic and athletic fit for you! The Estrela team is here to help you figure out options and I am open to answering specific questions based on my background (even if you are working with another consultant, I am more than happy to help!). 

If you're interested in hearing more specifics about his process, check out this great webinar we hosted with fellow IECA member, Reid Meyer from Athletes to Athletes:

Still looking for MORE info? Head on over to watch my interview with The Athlete C.A.F.E. where I share some additional tips for college recruits:

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

-Michael Jordan