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Recruiting the Student Athlete: A Workshop on College Admissions. Recruiting the Student: A Workshop on College Admissions. Recruiting the Athlete: A Workshop on College Admissions. A few important opening words :
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Recruiting the Student Athlete:A Workshop on College Admissions
A few important opening words : • Our priority in the college counseling program at Minnetonka High School – helping the student (athlete) find the right fit! • College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won! • Every student (athlete) is encouraged to follow this rule: “You apply for admission to a college because you want to go (play) there!”
Initial Eligibility • Any athlete who wishes to compete at the Division I or Division II level must be cleared by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (established in 1993). • www.ncaaclearinghouse.net • The NCAA Clearinghouse serves: • Prospective student athletes • High school administrators, coaches, and counselors • NCAA member institutions
Initial Eligibility, continued • Sixteen core courses • 4 English • 3 Math • 2 Science • 1 more from English, Math, or Science • 2 Social Science • 4 more from above, foreign language, religion or philosophy
Initial Eligibility, continued • GPA/Test Score “sliding scale” • 3.55 core gpa with 37 ACT (adding up the 4 sections) • 3.00 core gpa with 52 ACT • 2.50 core gpa with 68 ACT • 2.0 core gpa with 86 ACT NOTE: test score sections can come from more than one test date!
Initial Eligibility, continued • GPA/Test Score “sliding scale” • 3.55 core gpa with 400 SAT (adding reading & math) • 3.00 core gpa with 620 SAT • 2.50 core gpa with 820 SAT • 2.00 core gpa with 1010 SAT NOTE: A grade of B+ is the same as a B-. Both are calculated as a 3.0.
NCAA colleges and universities -- $560 million in revenue in 2006! • Division I 326 institutions • Division II 290 institutions • Division III 443 institutions • For example, in men’s ice hockey • Division I 60 institutions • Division II 7 institutions • Division III 71 institutions
Division III programs • 80% private; 20% public institutions • Average enrollment: 2,000 (range is from 400 to over 40,000) • No financial aid related to athletics • Athletic focus is on in-season competition • Student athletes experience the full range of college life and programs • Student athletes play because they have a passion for the sport
Division III programs, continued • D-III sports are not “glorified intramurals” – think about this weekend’s game (St. Olaf vs. St. John’s) • Coaches can “slot” student athletes for their teams, so they have a “voice” in admissions • Pressure exists for students to apply early decision • Financial aid inconsistencies – i.e., “leadership scholarship” • Recruiting rules are not clearly defined
Division I programs • Head count sports • Student athletes have large scholarships • Limited number of “counters” on each team • Football 90 • Men’s Basketball 13 • Women’s Basketball 15 • Women’s Volleyball 12
Division I programs • Equivalency sports • No limit on number receiving countable aid • Athletic scholarships are smaller • Men’s soccer 9.9 • Women’s soccer 14 • Baseball 11.7 • Softball 12
Division I programs • Recruiting process – in an ideal world! • Coaches identify talented players • Coaches “court” the player • Player likes the coach and wants to play for him/her • Player makes a commitment to attend and signs a letter of intent • Student athlete is awarded a scholarship • Student athlete enrolls at the university!
Division I programs • Recruiting process – in the real world! • Mass mailings, beginning even in grade 9 • Communications to all-conference and all-state • Once personal visits can begin, a coach can make the player feel like he is “the golden boy.” • All the recruiting attention can stop in an instant – once another (better) player signs. Or, an injury occurs.
Division I programs • College visits • Official visits • Registered with NCAA Clearinghouse • Financed in part (or whole) by college • Limited to 5 (one visit per school – maximum of 48 hours) • Unofficial visits • No limit on number • College cannot pay any travel expenses
Division I programs • National Letter of Intent (NLI) • Binding one-year agreement/contract • Prospect must attend institution for one year • University must provide prospect with athletic financial aid (which is renewed on a year-to-year basis) • Signing dates vary: www.national-letter.org
Walking through the process -- action items in the 11th grade • Talk with your coach, your parents, and your guidance counselor about your plans • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse in June • Research summer camps, regional showcases, ODP programs – to work with certain coaches • Create a master list of college coaches, with contact info and roster information
Action items for Grade 11, continued • Create a resume or web site, which lists your academic and athletic achievements • Send a letter/email to all coaches in the winter/spring, with your resume attached • For some sports, develop a “highlights” video • Visit college campuses. Talk with coaches, when possible, and as many students as possible – including non-athletes
Action items for Grade 12 • Remain strongly committed to school work • Continue communication with coaches • Promptly return phone calls and emails • Cut off contact at institutions you are no longer interested in • Accept the situation when coaches are no longer interested in you
Action items for grade 12, continued • Apply to colleges that you are interested in attending – and where you are a strong candidate as a student and athlete • Update your resume and athletic profile/web site • Consider the early decision/early action option • Make a final decision – based on a holistic review of your options.
Role of the counselor • Honor the dream – respect the reality! • Be an objective listener to both the student athlete and the parent • Help students “sell themselves” to the college • Communicate with all students, starting in grade 9, about the core courses • Develop relationships with the coaching staff
The final word! • The general rule about applying to college as a student athlete: you should apply if the school is the right choice for you. • For more information: attend our program on November 13, with Mr. J.T. Bruett, the compliance office at the U of Minnesota. Phillip Trout College Counselor Minnetonka High School 952-401-5746 collegeguy@minntonka.k12.mn.us 10-03-07