Although it is very important for high school athletes to prepare mentally and physically for college athletics, it is often their ACADEMICS that keep them from achieving their goals for college and playing as freshman.
Obviously, there is a lot of preparation, investigation, and decision making that goes into choosing a college. If you haven’t read my previous newsletters, you should read the one entitled “unofficial visits”. You will find some great tips about visiting schools. It is imperative that you visit at least several schools before you make a decision. The internet is also an invaluable tool when it comes to learning more about different colleges and what each has to offer. Many schools even provide online “virtual tours” of the campus and facilities.
Remember, there is NO such thing as being over prepared or learning too much before you make a decision. The key to having success and finding the right fit is preparation. After you’ve gathered all the information you can, sit down as a family and evaluate each college and university carefully. Use the following factors to help you rate each college and help you make a knowledgeable decision:
- Does the school offer the course work I want to take as a major in college?
- Can I get a “quality” education there?
- Is there a possibility I could be offered some financial aid to play sports (scholarship)?
- If sports were not a factor, would I still want to get my education there?
- Is the college close enough or far enough away from home?
- Can their sports program fulfill my “athletic goals” for college?
- Do they provide “academic support” for athletes?
Ridley Fitzgerald
These are some great tips for finding a college. I like how you listed those questions to ask yourself before making this important decision. Really asking whether or not the school will give you a quality education is hopefully on the top of your list!