| So it is nearing the end of you senior year of high | | | | Teammates- Before you make your final decision |
| school and you are trying to decide where you want | | | | you should make a visit to the school and try to |
| to go to college. This can be a very tough decision, | | | | attend a practice or two. This will allow you to not |
| and when you start to include athletics into the | | | | only see how the coach runs practice, but it will also |
| equation it gets even tougher. Here are some things | | | | let you see what kind of work ethic and personality |
| that you should consider when making your decision. | | | | your potential future teammates have. If you enjoy |
| When narrowing your list of potential schools your | | | | the company of these potential teammates then you |
| should first look at academics. At which schools can | | | | should keep that school on your list of choices. |
| you receive the best education. Only a very small | | | | Facilities- When visiting a school you should take a |
| percentage of athletes will be able to have a | | | | look at all work out facilities that you will have access |
| professional career in their chosen sport so when we | | | | to. Do the facilities meet your needs and |
| decide on our college we must make it based on | | | | requirements. If they are lacking in something then |
| academics. | | | | are their plans in the future to either fix, build, or |
| Once you have the colleges narrowed down based | | | | replace potential facilities. Depending on the sport you |
| on academics then you can start to look at many | | | | play these facalities can be more complex than |
| other variables. Here are just a few and I have not | | | | others. For example, a runner does not need very |
| listed them in any particular order of importance. | | | | elaborate facilities. As long as they have a track, a |
| Location- Where do you want to go to school. If you | | | | few weights, and a training room then you should be |
| live in the North and you dislike cold weather then | | | | fine. Other sports require much more equipment and |
| you may want to look into schools in the South. | | | | facilities so you should ask about the facilities available |
| Maybe you would like to stay close to home so you | | | | to you if you attend. |
| then need to look at local schools. | | | | Scholarship- Many people can not afford to attend |
| Coach- Your coaches will play a huge role in | | | | college without some type of scholarship, grants, or |
| determining how well you enjoy your time in college. | | | | student loan. When you are determining you school |
| Most collegiate student-athletes see their coach more | | | | choice then you should keep in mind the dollar |
| than they see their parents so it is very important to | | | | amount that some of your potential schools have |
| select the correct coach. You should talk with | | | | offered. |
| different coaches to see which ones you believe you | | | | The list above if just a small number of examples of |
| could have a good relationship with. If you end up at | | | | things you should consider when searching for a |
| a school with a coach that you can not stand to be | | | | college. Before you rush any decision about your |
| around then you will either be miserable for four | | | | college please decide if the school meets enough of |
| years or you will decide to give up the sport you | | | | your requirements. If the school does not then you |
| love so much in order to be a normal student and to | | | | should discard it as a possibility and you should move |
| stay away from the coach. | | | | on to your next school. |