Posted by Jon Fugler on Sat, Dec 26, 2009 @ 01:21 PM
The free report The First Five Things You Need to Know About Athletic Scholarships is a great starter for people new to this, and a good refresher for those who have been at it a while.
We've pulled one of those five things for you to digest:
#3: The Importance of the Right Fit
There's no shortage of school choices when it comes to seeking the place you want to compete. In fact, the whole process can be overwhelming.
How many players do you hear about that transfer after one or two years because the program wasn't what they had expected? It happens all the time, and one of the reasons is that your emotions can rule your decision, rather than thinking objectively.
I remember one high school athlete who achieved his lifelong dream, and that was to get an athletic scholarship at a particular well-known, top school in the nation. He transferred out after a year, because there was a cancer on that team that he had been blinded from seeing when he was looking at the program.
Although you are looking for a good athletic scholarship, don't let it rule your decision, if at all possible. There are a lot of other factors when choosing a college and athletic program. The decision you make is one you'll have to live with for a long time.
So how can you end up where at the school that is the right fit for you?
We've come up with a tool that we call the "Report Card." You better believe that coaches are keeping a "report card" on you, so why not keep a report card on them? That way, if you've got a list of 20-25 schools that you're considering, you can narrow down the choice as you go along.
What is this "report card?" Simply put, you're grading each school on various categories. In the report card that we've developed at Recruit-Me, you have an organized approach to grading each of the schools you're looking at. As a result, the final choice will be a lot easier to make.
There are so many things to look at when you're choosing a place to compete. Believe me, it does not really come down to how much of a scholarship they are offering you. For instance, a school that costs $20,000 (tuition and room and board) could offer you a $10,000 scholarship, but a school that costs $12,000 would likely be a better financial choice if they offered you a tuition-only scholarship.
We highly advise high school athletes to keep their options open as long as they can. Get to know the coaches and programs through phone calls and talking with players on the team, visit schools high on your list, and don't get wrapped up in the "recruiting glitz" that might not represent reality at that school. The longer you look, usually the more objective you will be.
So put together your "report card" and compare schools and programs that way. The Recruit-Me Kit has a refined report card, so be sure to look at it and use it.
The most important thing is to find the best school and program for you. Find the best fit.