College Preparation Night

Transcription

1 Starting the College Processes: Throughout the entire process, you may initiate contact (via , instant messenger, fax, phone and/or letters) as much as you want. Phone message (except specific camp related questions) CANNOT be returned until July 1 st of your Senior year and unfortunately College Coaches cannot text you until you have signed a NLI or similar! Freshman/Sophomore Year The beginning of your high school career should coincide with the beginning of your college search. This is a time for assessment. You need to begin to ask Big Questions at this time. What do I want to get out of college? Academically, where do I fit? Do I want to be close to home? What do I want to do when I graduate? More than likely, there will not be definitive answers to these life questions at this time and they may change, sometimes from month to month and even day to day. The most important part of this assessment is not the answers but the thought processes which lead you to your choices. Make sure the place you choose is a Good Fit for YOU!! Freshman Year Check List Improve GPA/Core Courses Gather player evaluations from high school and club coaches to assist in your player development Participate in a top level club program, Provincial Team, etc. Begin to ask the Big Questions listed below Formulate possible college list of 20 or so schools Make initial contact(send an /letter with resume and any tournaments attending) Begin taking Unofficial visits Freshman/Sophomore year is a great time to make initial contact by letter and/or (Initial contact should be done through the mail, then update through and/or letterform). Players should begin to formulate a list of 20 or so schools, varying in division and level. This list is variable. Division I and II schools can only respond to the introductory letter with a general questionnaire and/or a summer camp brochure. By making contact, it lets the prospective school know of your genuine interest. It is also recommended to continue this initial contact with schedules (club and tournament updates, recent awards, academic awards/scores, ODP stuff, etc. Update as often as you feel is necessary. The cover letter should stress your interest and awareness of the specific program. In other words, personalize each letter. This is done by reviewing their past successes, season record, tournament bid, player awards, graduating seniors, etc; demonstrating you are well researched! Your graduation date should be very clear to the reader as well as additional contact information, (mailing address, address, etc.) It should also highlight personal and/or team successes, both club and high school. Also included in the letter should be a complete athletic and academic resume along with any pertinent club/high school schedules. A request for further information about the soccer program and the university/college as well

2 as summer camps should be made at the closing of the letter (see attached samples). Please be aware that the only correspondence you will receive in return for your letter will be a general questionnaire, a camp brochure and a letter explaining general recruiting rules pertaining to your specific graduation year. It is also recommended to take as many unofficial visits as possible to as many different types of schools during your freshmen/sophomore years in high school. You have an unlimited amount of unofficial visits. Most coaches are more than willing to meet and talk. Campus tours can usually be set up through admission and/or a visitor's center. Sophomore Year Check List Take PSAT and/or ACT/SAT Continue to improve your GPA/Core Courses Gather player evaluations from high school and club coaches to assist in your player development Participate in college showcases and tournaments Research, Research, Research Attend College Nights /I.D. Camps and any other additional informational sessions held by high school, universities and/or other organizations Obtain information via internet sources, college guides, and counselor Increase communication (written, , etc.) with potential college and universities Attend prospective colleges summer camps Sometime during the sophomore year, it is also recommended to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at: High School guidance counselors should also be of assistance in this process. It is also wise to evaluate your CORE courses and grade point average (refer to the NCAA Guide). NCAA rules for freshmen and sophomores Correspondence - Written College coaches may only send you a questionnaire, a letter explaining the rules, a referral to admissions and a camp brochure. However, you may write to college coaches as often as you like. Return the questionnaire to be place on their mailing list. Telephone College coaches may not telephone you at all, not even to return a message. You may initiate contact as often as you like. Evaluations College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times (7) during the academic year. Off-Campus Contact Coaches may not have any off campus contact with you and your parents other

3 than a civil greeting, at a tournament they can say Hi, and after the tournament you can have a conversation with them. (Only when your team is finished competing). On-Campus Contact You may visit college campuses and talk with college coaches as often as you like at your own expense ( Unofficial Visits ) are treated the same as written correspondence. Junior Year As of September 1 st of the junior year, prospective student-athletes may begin to receive letters, and other official soccer/university information from college coaches, faculty members (but not Boosters ). You should now look to have narrowed down your choice of school to about five (5); therefore, it is a good idea to continue your research and recruiting! You must also begin to research the academic side of schools in great detail. Your recruiting should continue along the same lines as your sophomore year but with more focus. Even though your high school season coincides with college soccer season, you should watch as many college games as possible, try to watch all different divisions (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, JC). This will help you greatly in your athletic education. If you visit a game let the Head Coach know in advance that you will be there and introduce yourself after the game Continue to request further information as well as take more Unofficial Visits. As of March 1 st, you may receive one phone call from a Division I coach. It is limited to one phone call for the entire month. During the month of April only, a Division I college coaches may meet with you and your family on your high school s campus. This is only for the month of April. Take the ACT/SAT tests during the fall and as many times as you can. Don't wait until the fall of your senior year. Most academic packages from colleges are put together in the fall of your senior year based upon your earlier scores and early deadlines. Junior Year Checklist Take ACT/SAT exams Narrow your college search academically and athletically with answers to Big Questions Increase aggressiveness via increased communications with perspective colleges/universities Continue your player development Continue to schedule unofficial visits

4 NCAA Rules for Junior Year Written Starting Sept. 1 of your junior year in high school, college coaches may begin to send you recruiting letters and s, other information on the school and soccer program. Telephone College coaches may not telephone you AT ALL, not even to return a message. You may initiate contact as often as you like (be persistent!). Evaluations College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times (7) during the academic year. Off-Campus Contact Coaches may not have any off campus contact with you and your parents other than a civil greeting, However, a coach may contact with you at your high school ONCE in the month of April. On-Campus Contact You may visit college campuses and talk with college coaches as often as you like at your own expense. are treated the same as written correspondence. College coaches may send you s of often as they like beginning Sept. 1 of your junior year. Senior Year As of July 1 st of your senior year, you may receive phone calls from coaches, Division I and II. Division II may begin calling after June 15 th. Coaches are limited to one phone call per week. Messages don't count as a phone call. If your parents speak with the coach about the university and/or soccer program, that phone call will count for that week even if they did not speak with you directly. Also, beginning your first day of class, you can begin to take Official Visits. You have five total! These visits are by invitational only! Official visits are expense paid visits with costs for you covered by the recruiting institution. Senior Year Checklist Big Questions should be answered with a focus on possible field of study (See Academic Standardsbelow) College list should be narrowed down to 5 Colleges and/or Universities Continue aggressive communications (update, athletically and academically) Apply for Admissions Apply for financial aid Possible Official Visits

5 NCAA Rules for Senior Year Written College Coaches may continue to send recruiting letters and information as often as they like. Telephone College coaches may telephone you and/or your parents beginning July 1 prior to senior year. Division II coaches may begin on June 15. You may contact coaches as often as you like. Evaluations College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times (7) during the academic Year. Off Campus Contact Coaches may set up a Home Visit On-Campus Contact (Unofficial Visits) You may visit college campuses and talk with college coaches as often as you like at your own expense. Official Visits Official Visits begin with your first day of classes your senior year. An official visit is a visit where the school pays all or part of your expenses. You are limited to one per school and a total of five. are treated the same as written correspondence.

6 Big Questions: Do they offer my intended major? Do you want to live away from home or stay close? What is the graduation rate of that sport? Are tutors available? Where does the coach see me fitting in? What is the academic advising situation like? Do you need a video of me playing? What positions are you looking to fill? Search for schools at NCAA.ORG Academic Standards Graduate from high school. Complete a minimum of 16 core courses. Earn a minimum required grade-point average in core courses. Earn a qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT. Request final amateurism certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center. For Division I student-athletes who will enroll in August 2016 and later, the requirements to compete in the first year will change. In addition to the above standards, prospects must: Earn at least a 2.3 grade-point average in core courses. Meet an increased sliding-scale standard (for example, an SAT score of 1,000 requires a 2.5 high school core course GPA) Successfully complete 10 of the 16 total required core courses before the start of their senior year in high school. Seven of the 10 courses must be successfully completed in English, math and science. Prospects that earn at least a 2.0 GPA but not a 2.3 GPA and meet the current sliding scale standard (for example, an SAT score of 1,000 requires a high school core course GPA) will be eligible for practice in the first term and athletically related financial aid the entire year, but not competition. Freshmen who are academically successful in the first term will earn the ability to continue to practice for the remainder of the year. Division III college and universities set their own admission standards. The NCAA does not set initial eligibility requirements in Division III.

7 SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY LETTER January 1, 2014 Harry Harris Head Coach Women s Soccer The Pitch Here and There, ID Dear Coach Harris I am in the process of researching for a university which has the combination of both a (specify) level soccer program and a high academic standard. The University of Here and There is one of the few universities that can claim both of these attributes. The enclosed resume details my soccer profile and academic standing. I am currently in my junior year of high school with a GPA of 3.91 on a 4.0 scale and I am taking college preparatory classes in chemistry and honors biology. I play for Eastside Timbers SC in Oregon, and we play in the P1 division, the top division in the State. I play forward for my club team who play with a lineup, but have at times played a I have played striker with my club teams and high school team but I also have experience playing defense. I was the starting left fullback for the Oregon ODP team. I am more than willing to play at any position in order to be as effective for the team as possible. I believe that I have the necessary soccer skills and abilities which would contribute to the success of your program. Thank you for any consideration you can give me as a future Hare. Please send me information on your program that may help me better prepare myself to attend and play at the University of Here and There. Sincerely, Name Address Phone number

8 Sample Structure of Introductory Letter/ **Personalize your letter/ ! Demonstrate in some way that you have researched the university and know something particular about the school (reputable major) and soccer program (successes, current players, etc.).** Date Coach s Name (make sure this is correct! You will be surprised!) University Address, State, Zip Dear Coach: Introduction The opening paragraph (s) should include your name, grade and graduation year. It should also clearly state your genuine interest in the university and soccer program and why Purpose Explore the possibility of playing soccer at school, visiting campus, meeting with coaching staff, etc. Playing Background Position, club experience, high school, playing honors, other May include athletic, technical or tactical strengths Academic Background GPA, ACT/SAT, class rank, intended major Include your upcoming soccer schedules, showcases, league games, camps, tournaments and all necessary contact information (mailing address, phone numbers, address). Include player profile Closing Thank you for reviewing my credentials Respectfully, Your Name (make sure you sign it!)

9 Mary-Jane Smith Eastside Timbers Sunderland Graduation Year: 2016 Date of Birth: 1/1/1998 Current Grade: 10 Height: 5 11 Position: Forward NCAA Clearinghouse #: SAT: Taking 10/14 ACT: Taking 9/14 GPA: 3.9 Class Rank: 17/498 Player Contact Information Full Name: Mary-Jane Elizabeth Smith Address: 1122 SE Portland Ave, Portland, OR address: mjsmith10@msn.com Skype: mjsmithy10 Cell Phone: Home Phone: High School: Stixville High School Address: 11 Stixville Street, Portland, OR HS Phone: Enrollment: 1987 Coaches Contact Information High School Coach: Jenny Jones Club Coach: Stevie Showls ODP Coach: Jules Jones address: jayjay1@aol.com address: Stevie.Showls2@yahoo.com address: JJ11@msn.com Club Soccer Details and Accomplishments Club Team: Eastside Timbers Sunderland League: OYSA Winter league 2014 U16 Prem. Coach: Stevie Showls League Link: Team Accomplishments: Surf Cup, CA - Champions 2013 Presidents Day Tournament, AZ Finalists 2013 OYSA State Cup, OR Finalists 2013 Showcase of Champions, WA 2013 Cascadia Challenge Cup, OR Champions 2013 OYSA Winter League, OR Premier Champions Individual Accomplishments: Upcoming Tournaments: 47 goals scored in 26 games 23 assists in 26 games Cascadia Challenge Goalden Boot Award OYSA State Cup, OR April 12 th thro May 4 th Showcase of Champions, WA May 16 th -18 th