<p>Any parents of athletes that have that added factor to the college search willing to enlighten me about your experiences? I have a soccer goalkeeper who wants to include the sport in her college experience. Any information about the process would be appreciated.</p>
<p>It was a huge factor in our search.</p>
<p>[Athletic</a> Recruits - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/athletic-recruits/]Athletic”>Athletic Recruits - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>you should find helpful voices on the above thread</p>
<p>DadofTwins…</p>
<p>Start contacting coaches early in h.s. Most team websites have recruiting questionnaires.
Attend camps/clinics run by college coaches
Participate in club, and National team program if possible
Play in high visibility tournaments (club)
Visit the campus and talk with the coach in person. We crossed a couple schools my D thought she would like off the list, based on an on campus visit. (non-official)</p>
<p>If you do all of the above, and your kid is really good, the coaches will reach out to you. This makes for a fun ride…but comes with lots of pressure. Commit, decide, hurry up and accept our offer, etc. </p>
<p>If your kid is not DI material, or wants a more academic school or a DIII, then reach out to those coaches as soon as possible as well. Sometimes these schools (and some DI schools) have a big walk-on population, so it is not all about getting recruited.</p>
<p>For most kids, if they want to play in college, there is a place for them. DI,DII, DIII, or even Collegiate Club. </p>
<p>Good luck to your D!</p>
<p>Yes, athletics have become a huge factor in our college search, too. DadofTwins, as you may have discovered already, there’s an entirely different set of timelines involved when you’re searching for an athletic placement, as opposed to a strictly academic application for college.</p>
<p>Our DD, a volleyball prospect, now has two lists of prospective colleges: one of schools where she’d like to play volleyball, and a second list of schools where she’d like to pursue her desired major (marine biology). Of course, as luck would have it, there’s not a lot of overlap between these two lists.</p>
<p>Our first decision has been to determine our DD’s level of potential college volleyball competency: DI, DII or DIII. It’s a question we’ve yet to resolve. We watch volleyball at the DII level (Univ. of Anchorage and their GNAC opponents) in person, and watch DI matches on television. Sometimes I believe D could play at the DII level right now; at other times I doubt if she’ll ever qualify for DI play; and on some days I wonder if DIII schools might not be a better match for her talents. She’s been a starter (she’s a setter/DS) for her high school and club teams as a sophomore. We send her on club travel teams and to skill camps Outside each summer, and she’s continued to improve. Her coaches are high on her talents and level of team play. My assessment? She’s the world’s greatest, of course, but perhaps I’m a tad biased.</p>
<p>I got serious (and organized) about the process after reading the book “Put Me In, Coach” by Laurie A. Richter. I highly recommend this book for it’s straight-forward approach to the process and it’s no-nonsense, nothing-but-the-necessary-info that it contains. (I bought and read several others, but recommend Richter’s.) She sets out timelines for seeking athletic scholarships or team participation, details the differences between DI, DII and DIII schools and their level of support, shows how to compose letters/emails to coaches and fill out recruiting questionaires, offers info on making recruiting DVDs (the step I’m currently on) and offers recommendations on sorting through offers should they be forthcoming.</p>
<p>We’re making a college trip this summer, visiting 11 schools in WA, ID and OR where we think DD may have a chance to play volleyball (we’ll visit the two Alaska universities at a later time). These are all DII, DIII and (one) NAIA schools; we did not receive any return emails from DI schools. We’re meeting with the head coach or an assistant coach at each school. Only three of the schools have D’s desired academic major, a factor we’ll have to deal with at some point.</p>
<p>Overall, I think the process of sorting through colleges and selecting those your child wants to apply to for academics is simpler by far! But by being organized, and realistic, I think we’re getting a handle on the process and hopefully we’ll end up where my daughter will be happy with both her academic and athletic choices. </p>
<p>Good luck in your pursuit!</p>
<p>I am just beginning the search. My D is Class of 2014, but I know time flies.</p>
<p>Denny - I am not a parent but it is absolutely great that you and your D sat down and prepared both lists. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see past basketball and the only schools that I considered were for my sport. Now, I’m still healing from an injury and no longer want to play and want to focus on my studies only to realize that without basketball I am totally unhappy with the school I attend. </p>
<p>Twins - It is great that you are starting early but remember that they are kids out there who have started even earlier. Try to get a knowledgeable unbiased opinion from someone about what level they think your D can currently play at. If she really really wants to play at the highest level I would do as previously suggested, and contact college coaches. Send game film. Work hard, of course. I’m not too sure about volleyball, but for basketball AAU plays a huge roll in connecting with college coaches. Also, be very very aware of what each division offers. As I said before I’m not too knowledgable about volleyball but in basketball, playing for almost any D1 or D2 school is like taking on a full time job. A lot is expected from you. It is a big decision and it plays a huge roll in the college search. Its not always easy to find the perfect match(the school can be perfect, but not too fond of the coach, and vise versa). Good luck to both you and your daughter!</p>