Recruitment 101- Preparing for Unofficial Visits
Unofficial college visits are an extremely important way for athletes to show interest in a particular school. While they lack the glitz and glamor of an official visits they can serve many of the same purposes, and can potentially be more effective at showing true interest.
For those serious about college recruitment an unofficial visit can show intent and help get you noticed. While the number of unofficial visits a recruit can take is unlimited due to school and time constraints, a college coach can’t help but take your interest seriously.
By following a few basic guidelines, you can both maximize the impact of your visits and save yourself a bit of money along the way.
1. Come up with a list of schools you can realistically see yourself attending
2. Plan to visit schools on a date when you are certain the coach will be on campus
3. Contact the coach and let him know you are planning to visit
4. Request an in person meeting to discuss the university, the program, and your interest
5. Contact the admissions office to learn about the school academically and to schedule a guided tour of the campus
6. BE PREPARED – think of it as a preliminary job interview!
If you are hoping for an athletic scholarship offer from a school, why not take the time to prepare some thoughtful questions about the direction of the program, or about the school’s academic reputation, so that a coach understands you are responsible and concerned about your future?
Don’t be fooled into thinking an unofficial visits has any less merit or purpose than an official visits. In some sense, unofficial visits are a tool to “officially” establish your interest in a school, at least as far as the coach is concerned, and so they will help you immediately be taken more seriously as a potential recruit.
If you are considering an unofficial college visit or are interested in learning more about college recruitment and athletic scholarship opportunities check out NCSA Athletic Recruiting today.
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