<p>I'm an international HS student who is interested in playing for either Harvard's soccer or volleyball team in a couple of years. I have a few questions:</p>
<p>1- In general, does recruiting for internationals work the same as with US citizens/residents? (for example, do international recruits still get "official", payed visits?)</p>
<p>2- What are some ways an international student can demonstrate his/her skills? (I can't really get Harvard's new head coach to fly down to Central America just to watch me practice....)</p>
<p>3- What should I do if I'm in both the soccer and volleyball teams at my HS? Should I drop one sport and dedicate intensely to a single one, in order to increase my skills (and, subsequentially, my chances of getting recruited)?</p>
<p>4- Is it advisable for prospective international recruits to initiate contact sooner? If so, when?</p>
<p>Send a video of some of your playing high points and fill out the questionnaire as an early junior. Try to go to a summer program in your sport at at camp known for recruiting. Look at the odds: which team is bigger, and where are your best skills. Focus on your best shot. Take the PSAT and send the results so they can see you are worthy early on. This is conjecture on my part, I have no idea how it will work.</p>
<p>You still can get an official. Im Canadian and got one, and my friends from the UK also got one. I would say the recruitment process is very much similar</p>
<p>I would think that dedicating to a sport is the better option - if it makes you significantly better. However, if you are recruitable for both sports, keep your options open cause you dont know what Harvard is looking for.</p>
<p>You might want to find out if volleyball even has the power to push for recruits. Some teams have more pull than others. Also, which are you better at? National level in either? Also, while international ovs are possible, for many schools they may eat up too much of the recuiting budget. Lots of cheap flights from canada and uk. Are there cheap flights from your country?</p>
<p>OldbatesieDoc: Uhh, I took the PSAT freshman year, I think I got a 215. It went good, but I’ll probably have to take it this year too. And, as far as contacting coaches in my early junior year, what’s the point in e-mailing them/calling them as an 11th grader if they can’t legally talk to me until I’m a senior?</p>
<p>thatguy100: So, your UK friends got an official too? That’s a good sign, I guess, because flights from here to Miami would cost like, around $300, plus the connecting flight to boston, I can’t picture the air costs being < $500… I hope I can still get an OV, though. And well, since there’s only a year from now until I’m a junior, I guess I’ll stay in both teams and when the time comes, I’ll contact the Harvard head of athletics and ask HIM (or her?) which team needs people, soccer or volleyball.</p>
<p>trackpop: Hmm, I don’t know. Next year (junior) I’ll be part of the national volleyball team (U-17). And, since we’re talking about Harvard here, maybe their recruiting budget won’t be exactly a problem. And as far as flights go, the total cost would be $500 to get to Boston, I think… </p>
<p>Someone have any suggestions as far as the video goes?</p>
<p>YouTube is a great way to make your videos available to coaches. After an introductory email you can ask if they’d be interested in seeing some video, at which time you can send them the link to your YouTube videos. It’s far less cumbersome than mailing DVDs. I wouldn’t just send an unsolicited link.</p>
<p>A few highlights and, if possible, footage from an entire game would be nice. Football, and I assume soccer coaches, will want to see how you play over the course of an entire game - if you’re bringing as much intensity at the end as you are in the beginning.</p>
<p>The videos don’t have to be professional productions. An opening frame with your name, grade, contact info etc. is fine. Coaches will not be impressed by fancy video transitions and effects and, by all means, don’t add a music soundtrack.</p>