Starting on the first day of your senior year in high school, you are eligible to go on an official college visit. Get excited — your visit will no doubt be a fun experience! But with your itinerary set by the coach, you’ll need to know what to look out for when you’re on campus. Follow the tips in this guide to get all of your questions answered.
The Conference
When you get recruited, you will be getting letters from a lot of different schools, and that means different divisions and different conferences within those divisions. So you have to ask yourself — where are you willing to play? Collegiate softball is split up into three divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. Among those three divisions are different conferences, which feature varying quality of play. So you have to decide where your skills fit. Would you rather be among the best competition, going head-to-head with your own teammates for time? Or would you prefer to be a big fish in a weaker conference?
Evaluate your skills and your goals so you can decide where you want to play and what type of competition you want to play among. Then you can decide if it’s even worth it for you to visit a particular school. But keep in mind that if you’ve gotten the invitation to visit, chances are you’re good enough to play.
The Team
Team chemistry is one of the most important things to look out for when you are on your visit. Believe it or not, these girls will become your family for the next four years in college — you have to get along with them.
So when on your visit, there are a few things to look out for:
Bonding
How does the team bond? Do they all get along? Is there obvious animosity? You want to put yourself in the best situation possible once you get to college, as you will likely be away from home.
Of course, a team is composed of teammates, not best friends — so don’t be naïve. You don’t have to like every member of the team, but try to get a sense of how well the girls get along with each other.
Practice
More likely than not, the coach will have you sit through a practice or conditioning session. If you get this opportunity, pay close attention to their work ethics and dedication. Always ask yourself, is this the type of team you want to be a part of?
The School
You also want to consider the campus itself. Look at the city or town it’s in and the surrounding area. You’ll need to make up your mind as to whether you prefer a quaint, small town or the bright lights of a bustling, big city.
Hot Tip: What’s in It for the Athletes?
Make sure to check out the quality of the softball field and locker rooms. Will you be doing your own laundry? Will you be supplied with equipment? These are all great questions to ask a player or the coach.
Amenities
Definitely check out the school’s facilities and ask about what amenities are offered to athletes and students. Check out their fitness center, varsity weight room, library, dining halls, etc. You want to make sure you like everything the school has to offer.
Living Situations
You should definitely look at the dorms offered by the school. You will be spending time there, so make sure to assess the living situations so you know what you’re signing up for:
- Are the best places to live on or off campus?
- Often, schools will require that first-years live in dorms, but what about the next three years? Do they offer housing for sophomores or upper classmen? Can you live off campus if you choose?
- Are the dorms co-ed or single sex?
Dining
As an athlete, you will be eating a lot of meals with your team, so be sure to look at the dining halls. Have at least one meal on campus during your visit to get an idea of what the school has to offer. If the food is unbearable, you may want to re-think your options as you will need to eat. There are a few other questions you can ask, as well:
- Are there multiple dining halls?
- Where are the best places to eat?
- Do local cafes or restaurants accept meal plans?
- Are grocery stores easy to get to if you don’t have your own car on campus?
Transportation
As silly or as lazy as it may seem, ask about transportation around the school:
- Are there free buses or shuttles that take you around campus?
- Is the campus so large that transportation needs to be used to get to class, or can you walk anywhere?
- Should you get a bike or bring a car?
Weather
Weather may also be a huge determining factor for you. Make sure you know yourself before deciding on a school. Is there a type of climate in which you wouldn’t be comfortable playing? Do you prefer East Coast flurries and foliage, or West Coast sunshine? It doesn’t necessarily matter if you’ve never lived in a certain type of climate, as long as you know what to be prepared for. Visit with an open mind!
The Academics
The school’s academic programs will likely be the most important determining factor. Before you choose an athletic program, you have to first find a match academically. Be honest with yourself. You are the one who is going to be taking the classes, so you have to really know what kind of student you are and what type of education you’re looking for. If you don’t think you can keep up in the Ivy League, that’s fine — no one is going to judge you. Just don’t set yourself up for failure from the start.
Hot Tip: Know the Priority
Make sure you know what the team’s priorities are. In other words, how seriously do the coaches treat schoolwork? If academics are your highest priorities, talk with a coach about the standard procedure of missing practices for class and extra lectures.
Tutors
As an athlete, you will have to miss some class. Ask about the availability of tutors on campus. Even if you don’t think you need one, it may be some something you choose to utilize down the road.
Study Abroad
Being able to study abroad is one of the best opportunities you will have in school. Why? Your tuition pays for it! You get to live in a different country for a semester or two, and then you get to travel. This option is more desirable to some than others, so if it’s important to you, make sure to get all the details:
- Does the coach allow it?
- What year would you go?
- Have any players gone abroad?
- What are the consequences of missing the Fall season?
- Where can you go?
Greek Life
Many athletes aspire to be a part of Greek life on campus, but with so many obligations, it’s not always possible. If you want to be Greek, make sure to ask the coach whether it’s even allowed, and then get some information on each chapter. Ask around to see if any players are Greek and how they like it.
Dual Sports
If you competed in multiple sports in high school and have the talent to take on more than one sport in college, go for it! Just know that it will take a toll on your body and your time. You’ll also need to know if it’s even allowed; otherwise you may have to choose only one sport.
There are No Dumb Questions
If you feel like you’re asking too many questions, think again. Players who look back at their recruiting trips usually wish they asked something else before signing the papers. Don’t let that be you!
