If you’re planning a campus visit, these 5 tips will help you make the most of it. Every university is a unique place. You’ll notice a different feel on each campus. And each athletic program has its own culture as well. Only a campus visit will help you know if the school your teen is considering will be a perfect fit. And here are 5 tips to help you figure that out.
1. Research before your campus visit.
Learn as much as you can about the college before you get on campus. Go through their website from top to bottom. They say that “information is power.” It’s true.
- Learn the admissions requirements.
- Research financial aid opportunities.
- Look over the athletics program page.
- Take a look at current players.
- Make sure the school offers the major your teen is considering.
- Check out campus facilities.
The more you and your teen know ahead of time, the better your visit will go. Read more in An Athlete’s Simple Start to a College Search.
All this research will give you a preliminary idea of whether your teen is even interested in the school.
Also, your teen will sound intelligent in conversations with coaches, players, and administrators. When you are prepared, people will notice, and they will appreciate it.
2. Ask the coach a lot of questions.
Most recruits will sit in the coach’s office and only answer questions directed at them.
Then recruit will offer up no more than two or three trivial surface questions. Questions like: “Do all the athletes on the team live in the same dorm?” Or: “How many players are you recruiting?”
Your teen is about to make a decision that will affect the next four years and the course of their future after college as well. It’s worth taking the time to dig deeper.
Engage the coach in a two-way conversation. First, this gives you further insight into the coach and the team. Second, coaches are desperately looking for mature young adults. At 18, they are few and far between. Your teen will have a real advantage in the recruiting process if they look the coach in the eye and have a real conversation.
The How to Get Recruited Guide has a long list of questions to help you make the most of your opportunity.
3. Spend time with the current players.
Spending time with current players is one of the best ways to get to know the team culture. Your teen should take advantage of as many opportunities for this as possible.
You can ask about eating lunch with a few players. Observing a practice is a great way to get a feel for how the team interacts. And some programs may allow your teen to spend the night in the dorms.
Make sure your teen takes the lead in every conversation. Let your teen have a chance to evaluate prospective teammates.
4. Take time to see the campus.
The best way to see the campus is on a tour. The coach or a player might personally take you around to see the campus. Or you may join a group from the admissions office. Go with anyone who will take you.
After your visit, take a few more minutes to walk around campus with your teen. Visit the coffee shop and do some people-watching. Check out the library.
If you have a short memory, take a few pictures so you can compare this campus with others you may end up visiting.
See as much as you can to help your teen make the best possible decision.
5. Take notes on your campus visit.
Take a few minutes to jot down your teen’s impressions of the school you just visited. You may feel certain you’ll remember everything, but after a few days, you might forget details.
And if you visit several schools, you may confuse one school with another in your memory.
Jot down anything that impressed your teen – whether it was the people or the facilities. Make note of things you didn’t like. Write out a few overall impressions to help you remember what each of you thought of the day.
Here’s a bonus tip to follow up on the campus visit.
Encourage your teen to connect with some of the current players on social media. If nobody wants to connect, your teen probably doesn’t want to go there. After your visit, check out their social media. You’ll learn a lot about your teen’s possible future teammates.
I cannot stress enough how important the college visit is. And the college visit is what you make of it. Be proactive in your research. Both you and your teen should engage the coach, players, and other adults in real conversation. Open your eyes and observe.
That’s how your teen will find the right fit. You’ll know it. And the coach will know it as well. It’s a win-win situation!
Here is another great article: 3 Reasons College Coaches Won’t Give You an Athletic Scholarship
How to Get Recruited: The complete guide that gives you the knowledge and confidence to get your high school athlete recruited.