Now that the D1 dead period is scheduled to conclude on June 1st, potential student-athletes everywhere wonder… what’s next?
If you think you might want to play in college, let’s talk!
IN College Planning works with student-athletes each year as they make plans to compete in college, typically in the NCAA. While we can’t tell you if you throw hard enough or swim fast enough to be competitive, we can help you find a school that supports both your academic and athletic interests.
How do we do it? We work with student-athletes like we do with any other teen, we just begin the process earlier. While we are happy to work with any high school aged teen, most of our clients begin work with us early in the junior year. If you’re considering play at the collegiate level? Let’s back that up a year. The work we do in career planning sophomore year is invaluable once recruitment can begin.
If you’re new to the NCAA, you may not realize that students can be recruited as early as the summer between sophomore and junior years. Without extensive career planning, it’s hard to know whether or not a particular school is an appropriate choice for you. Students who’ve done considerable career research will know whether or not a school is the right fit, beginning with whether or not their major is offered. What’s more, you can tell a coach of your plans so he or she knows what your schedule might be like/how it fits into the training schedule.
In a magical world, every student-athlete could consider any major, and be successful at both the major and the sport, but we know from past experience that might not be true. An internship-focused major in data analytics, or the clinical rotations required in nursing might work well with some sports, not so much with others. It might also be the case that playing at a D3 school may make it easier to accommodate an internship or clinical rotations, if either is a significant component of your major.
I’ll be the first to tell you that there’s a lot to learn if you plan to be a student-athlete. From understanding the various divisions to figuring out what you can do to get yourself recruited, it’s a busy few years. IN is here to help though.
If you see yourself on the field/on the mat/on the piste in college, let us help with your timeline. In addition to the career planning and college identification process you’ll begin with us, IN can help you determine when to reach out, and who you should reach out to. In the meantime, consider this from the NCAA website:
“The advantages of competing in college sports are both immediate and lifelong. Participating in college sports provides opportunities to learn, compete and succeed. Student-athletes receive top-notch academic support, quality medical care and regular access to outstanding coaching, facilities and equipment. Student-athletes as a group graduate at higher rates than their peers in the general student body and feel better prepared for life after college.
College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework.
Are you ready to play college sports? Download this brochure to find out.”
