Academics:
Request and complete college applications and prepare accurate, neat information, including a personal statement about yourself. Ask your guidance counselor to mail them in for you and follow up to make sure that they were received. Take the SAT or other tests EARLY in the year.
Complete the FAF form and mail it in early and schedule visits to any schools that you are seriously interested in. When visiting the campus, take the time to talk to an admissions representative, take an official tour of the campus, and meet with some players on the team and other students. Don’t be bashful. The only bad question is one that is not asked. If you have to fly to the college or if you have considerable expense in getting there, the coach may be willing to pick up the costs as an “official visit”. This will depend upon how interested the coach is in you.
Athletic:
Start by sending your personal package of information to coaches from schools that you are interested in. Include a schedule of your Travel Tournaments, Travel Season, and High School Season that you will be playing in. Follow up with a personal phone call. According to the NCAA, you are allowed to call the coach as oft4en as you like but the coach may only call you a limited number of times. The Coach is not allowed to make direct contact with you, unless you are in your High School Senior year (NCAA Rules).
THE DECISION
If you have followed an organized play through high school, and if you have covered most of the points in this information, you will be in apposition where you can make an informed and educated decision.
The final decision will probably not be easy, and you will go through some uncertainty and maybe some sleepless nights. Always remember that the primary reason for attending college is to receive a quality education and degree which will improve your long term career prospects.
Finally, if you work hard, play hard, stay organized and HAVE FUN, you Travel Soccer experience, your High School and College experience should be the best time of your life.
Compliments of the Cocoa Expo, Miami Florida |