The Nuts and Bolts of College Admissions + Athletic Recruiting

The Nuts and Bolts of College Admissions + Athletic Recruiting Kathy Smith Connor

Introduction Why I quit my job, went back to school and started my college counseling business • “Race to Nowhere” – The movie that started me thinking • Volunteering with Stanford’s Admissions Department interviewing prospective freshmen applying to Stanford from the Portland area • My background – Stanford, swimming, • educational/travel • My kids

Developing a College List Base your List on Four Important Criteria • Academic Fit • Social Fit • Financial Fit • Athletic Fit

Some Athletic Scholarship Facts • Millions of student/athletes are competing for roster spots • Understanding Head Count verses. Equivalency scholarships • . • The average soccer scholarship is worth approx. $12,000 a year • Just 2% of student/athletes will receive athletic scholarship funding • Full Scholarships are very scarce • Most scholarship opportunities are outside of DI • Competing at a DI level can be a job and may not be the best fit • Admission standards can be lower for student/athletes

Soccer Scholarship Statistics Odds of a HS athlete playing NCAA D1 soccer: Men 1.2% Women 2.3%

ATHLETIC RECRUITING • The process is different depending on whether a student/athlete is in high demand • The process is different depending on how early or late an athlete starts to work their recruiting • Among the most overlooked opportunities are those at the DIII level • DIII has the largest number of athletic programs and the highest concentration of top-ranked academic programs

NCAA Academic Eligibility Summary • Complete the 16 core-course requirement in eight semesters: • 4 years of English • 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher) • 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by the high school) • 2 years of social science • 1 extra year of english, math or natural or physical science • 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy) • Earn a minimum required 2.5 grade-point average in core courses • Sliding scale GPA and test scores for DI • GPA calculated just on these core courses • NCAA only considers the SAT Critical Reading and Math scores - not Writing

NCAA Checklist for student/athletes • Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of your sophomore year at www.eligibilitycenter.org • Send your transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of your junior and senior years • Take the ACT or SAT and use the code “9999” to have your official scores sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center • Make sure you are on track to graduate on time with your class and have the required amount of core courses • Request final amateurism certification during your senior year (beginning April 1)

The Keys to Successful Recruiting  It’s all about knowing… • 3 Questions Coaches • Need Answered • Are you admissible? • Do you have solid reasons for being • interested in their school? • Are you playing at a level they’d like to have on their roster?

The Seven Things You Must Do: • Have a realistic understanding of the level you are competing • Create a “good fit” college list (academic, social, financial first) • Develop an athletic resume. Consider a website with video • Contact coaches from targeted list • Express interest • send video • invite them to see you play • Get EXPOSURE to college coaches • Tournaments/Showcase • ID Camps • Cultivate the relationship • Understand the NCAA rules of recruiting

NCAA Eligibility Center • Division 1 – generally have more students, larger athletics budgets, and more athletic department support than D2 and D3 programs. Approx. 350 members and include the big conferences. • Division 2 – emphasize a life balance in which academically and athletically gifts students can compete at a high level while having a traditional collegiate experience. Approx. 300 members. • Division 3 – academics are the primary focus and student/athletes experience shorter sports seasons, reducing their time away from academic studies and other campus activities. The largest division with approx. 450 members.

NCAA Eligibility Center Understand the rules of engagement and recruiting!!Rules are different per sport, per high school year and per Division OVERVIEW DIVISION 1 Generic recruiting materials may be sent freshman and sophomore years (these do not mean you are being recruited!) Athletes may call and talk to coaches. Coaches may not call. Beginning September 1 of junior year, coaches may call or write Athlete may not talk to coaches off campus till July 1 (unless ID Camp). Athletes may visit campus and talk to coaches anytime

NCAA Eligibility Center Understand the rules of engagement and recruiting!!Rules are different per sport, per high school year and per Division OVERVIEW DIVISION 2 Generic recruiting materials may be sent freshman and sophomore years (these do not mean you are being recruited!) Athletes may call and talk to coaches. Coaches may not call. Beginning June 15 after sophomore year, coaches may call or write Athlete may not talk to coaches off campus till June 15 (unless ID Camp). Athletes may visit campus and talk to coaches anytime. Athletes may take Official Recruit Trips after June 15.

NCAA Eligibility Center Understand the rules of engagement and recruiting!!Rules are different per sport, per high school year and per Division OVERVIEW DIVISION 3 May receive written communication from coach anytime. You may call coach or coach may call you at any time. Athlete cannot talk to coaches off campus till after sophomore year. Athletes may visit campus and talk to coaches anytime. May make Official Recruit Trips after January 1 of junior year.

NCAA Eligibility Center Recruiting Trips Unofficial Visits: Athletes may visit a campus “unofficially” at any time The family pays costs Talk to the coach Watch a practice Take a campus tour Official Recruit Trips: May take after first day of school senior year (D1), after January 1 of junior year (D2), and after June 15 after sophomore year (D3) All expenses paid 48 hours only May not practice with the team (except one time D2)

National Letter of Intent (NLI) • Binding contract between a college and a prospect • Requires the college-bound student-athlete to attend the for one academic year • College to provide athletic financial aid for one academic year • No signing if no athletic money • Verbal commitments are common but non-binding • NLI Signing Dates for Student-Athletes Enrolling Fall of 2018

Conclusion • Research must be done in a systematic and organized way to find a list of “good fit schools” both academically, socially and athletically • Apply strategically • Apply to schools that are “great-fit” schools and manage information requested and deadlines accurately • Communicate effectively with coaches to search for athletic scholarships • Go after need-based aid by utilizing proper forms and timing • Find merit-based aid by mining data to maximize chances of being awarded • Minimize debt by analyzing financial aid award letters and choices carefully • Assertively pursue appropriate athletic opportunities by communicatingwith coaches and understanding recruiting rules and regulations • Get organized - manage deadlines and details • Work together as a family to manage stress • Remember, this is not a Race to Nowhere, but an adventure where students can find a college where they will be successful

About Connor College Consulting Mission • Reduce a family’s stress and increase joy during the college selection process • Build a young person’s independence and initiative through the college selection process • Walk together through the college selection process, with faith, humor and perspective, ultimately selecting an exciting and well-suited college for each student • Pursue athletic opportunities to play in college by teaching appropriate communication with coaches and NCAA guidelines, rules and restrictions I work with families to walk through a logical and ordered sequence of steps to: • Bring a sense of clarity, order and calm to the application and financial aid process • Determine the right college fit for each student’s unique strengths and needs • Maximize the student’s opportunity to be accepted at their school(s) of choice • Facilitate the athletic recruiting communication process 503-679-5437  I’d love to work with you! connork@stanfordalumni.org www.connorcollegeconsulting.com

The Nuts and Bolts of College Admissions + Athletic Recruiting