A year-by-year guide to the college sports recruiting process.
Created by tclakin on Dec 3, 2010
Last updated: 12/03/10 at 06:31 PM
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Graduate from high school on time (in eight academic semesters). Ask guidance counselor to send final transcripts to the college you're attending and the NCAA Eligibility Center. Congratulations! You're finally done!
Reply deadline at many colleges for students offered admission.
Admission decisions for many colleges mailed and posted online. The regular period for signing letters of intent for basketball and any sport not listed in February begins Wednesday of the week following the NCAA men's and women's basketball championship.
Deadline at many schools for financial aid application.
The regular period for signing letters of intent for football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country, and men's water polo begins first Wednesday of the month. Mid-year transcript supplements due at some colleges for either early or regular admission.
Completed applications for regular admission are due at many colleges. Reply deadlines at may colleges for students offered early admission.
Last chance to take SAT or ACT and have it count toward regular admission; scores from exams taken during spring term may affect freshman eligibility. Early admission decisions for many colleges mailed and posted online the middle of the month.
The early period for signing national letters of intent (for those receiving athletic financial aid) for basketball and many sports begins second Wednesday of the month. Applications for early admission are due at many colleges by the middle of the month.
Take the SAT (Oct., Nov.) or ACT (Sept., Oct.) at least once during fall term.
As of the first day of classes, you're allowed to go on official (university-subsidized) visits. Narrow the list of schools you're interested in to at most 10 with the help of guidance counselor, coach, and family. Throughout the fall, visit or revisit as many as possible. Meet with guidance counselor to check the number of courses you need for graduation and to fulfill the NCAA's core course requirements.
As of the first day of classes, you're allowed to go on official (paid for by the college) visits. Narrow the list of schools you're interested in to at most 10 with the help of a guidance counselor, coach, and family. Throughout the fall, visit or revisit as many as possible. Meet with guidance counselor to check the number of courses you need for graduation and to fulfill the NCAA's core course requirements.
The Common Application becomes available on August 1 at www.commonapp.org. Update your highlights DVD. Remember to give new copies to your coach.
Ask guidance counselor to send an up-to-date copy of your transcript to the Eligibility Center. College coaches (except for D1 basketball and football) are allowed off-campus contacts with you starting in July. Attend showcases or camps.
Beginning June 15, D2 coaches can call you on the phone once a week.
Start thinking about and lining up teachers, coaches, and counselors to write recommendation letters for you.
SAT exams held in January, March, May and June; ACTs in February, April and June. Register and take one test twice or both once before the end of the term. Remember to list the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient (code "9999").
Ask your coach to assess your athletic talent. Ask him or her to recommend showcases and camps for you to attend.
Meet with your guidance counselor to update your class plan. Take the PSAT (a practice SAT test), usually held the third Saturday of the month.
All other D1 and D2 college coaches are now allowed to send your recruiting materials. D1 coaches can now call on the phone. Give your high school coaches copies of your DVD. Make sure your coach and the school's AD have your contact info, and let them know it's OK to give out to college recruiters. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
Attend on-campus summer camps at colleges. If you have enough highlights from your sophomore year, put together a DVD to send out. Take summer school classes to catch up on missed credits.
Division I men's basketball and men's ice hockey coaches are allowed to send you recruiting materials and call you on the phone starting June 15.
Calculate your current GPA; if it's low, register for a couple of AP/honors courses for junior year.
If you haven't already, start marking informal college visits. Remember - the NCAA puts no limit on the number of unofficial (unpaid) visits you can take.
Registration for most summer camps opens (and fills up fast). Volunteer work always looks great on a college application, so find a place to donate your time.
Research summer camps held at colleges you're interested in. Most schools have brochures and camp information on their athletic websites.
Join a couple of extra-curricular activities or clubs. Check out online college exam daily questions (sat.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org).
Ask friends or family members to videotape you at games or meets. Keep a file of your stats, newspaper clippings, awards, etc.
Take summer school classes to catch up on any missed credits. Start working out with a focus on getting in shape for the upcoming season.
Sign up for at least two AP/honors classes in your strongest subjects for sophomore year.
Start researching colleges online and in guidebooks (which you can get at either your local bookstore or the library).
Introduce yourself to the training staff and your school's athletic director.
Get to know all the coaches at your school in the sports you plan on playing.
Make sure to check out www.eligibilitycenter.org to find out what constitutes a core course. Meet with guidance counselor to set up a long-term class plan.
Division III coaches are now allowed to send you recruiting materials and call on the phone.
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