Easy Way to Happiness

Are you a high school athlete interested in intercollegiate athletics? If so, here are a few things you should know.

First, be sure you “get real”. Most high school student-athletes don’t have the talent to play basketball in the ACC or football in the Big Ten. And, most coaches in those leagues already know which high school players they want to recruit. So, instead of spinning your wheels contacting the universities which are on TV every week, have a frank conversation with your coach and other well-informed folks and compile a list of colleges whose coaches might want to pursue you. Then, ask your counselor which of the listed colleges makes sense from his or her perspective, and if there are others you should add to your list.

Make sure you see and consider the whole picture, not just the colleges’ athletic programs. Are the academic programs solid? Does the campus environment seem friendly? Do you like the location? And, the big question; Is it a college you might choose even if you were not an athlete?

Don’t rule out colleges simply because you have not heard much about them. Mount Union, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Kenyon are three colleges you may not have heard of, but all have distinguished themselves in athletics. There are dozens more like them in every sport you can name.

Remember that there is a lot of financial aid aside from athletic scholarships, and that there are some great athletic programs at the NCAA II and III levels.

Never lose sight of the fact that the goal of leaving college with a good education should come before your athletic aspirations. Unfortunately, there are coaches out there, at all levels, who are more interested in winning games than educating student-athletes. If you suspect that you’ve encountered one, run, don’t walk, in the opposite direction.

Get familiar with the rules that govern recruiting. Ask your coach if you have questions or concerns. Always keep in mind that any rules violation could have a negative impact on your future.

Too learn as much as possible about the colleges you are considering, be sure to be in touch with admissions offices. They will provide you with much more comprehensive publications and information than you are likely to get from coaches. Coaches, to nobody’s surprise, are very focused on athletics, while good admissions counselors are likely to know far more about academics, campus life, student support services, etc.

Don’t worry to much about listed college costs. What it will actually cost you may be far less.

Of course, some coaches are deluged with email and snail mail from high school athletes, so you may not get a quick response when you contact them. Give them a month, and then try again. You may never hear from some of them. Don’t take it personally…it just means they are already talking to the folks they want and that they could use a lesson in etiquette.

Remember, even if a coach swamps you with emails, letters, or brochures, he or she may only be doing so to be polite or may be stringing you along as a possible alternative to the student-athletes he or she really wants. Knowing that, your smartest plan is to continue communicating with any coach who seems to be interested in you until you have accepted a firm offer. Don’t close any doors early.

After you have commited to a college or university, send an email or letter thanking the coaches who showed some level of interest in you. Not only is it good manners, but it might help you if you later decide, for any reason, to transfer.

Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, is a former high school coach. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about college how to get recruited by college coaches , and online colleges .