So the recruiting process is going well. You're in fairly regular communication with college coaches and you're beginning to narrow your search to a manageable number.
Now you're asking, "When should I start asking the tough questions?"
As with many college recruiting debates, this one is shared by thousands of parents and athletes, and yet, the answers aren't exactly black and white. Based on my conversations over the years with many college coaches, I'll attempt to shed some light on the matter.
First off, let's define "tough questions" by outlining a typical recruiting scenario. For this case, we'll use "Joe" as our example.
Joe is a rising senior, meaning he graduates from high school in May 2009. He played varsity as a sophomore and began receiving some letters, camp invitations and general correspondence that year. Some of the coaches who contacted Joe as a 10th grader said something along the lines of, "I can't really start recruiting you until Sept. 1, but we know who you are and will be in touch more frequently when you're officially a junior."
It's now Summer before his senior year. The interest from coaches during his junior was steady. Letters, emails, more camp invitations, video requests, spring visits to Joe's school, etc. In all, more than 40 colleges have shown interest in him. Some programs have risen to the top of Joe's list because of the frequency and genuine nature of their interst. Others have maintained regular correspondence, although it's hard for Joe to tell just how interested they are, despite having received calls, hand-written letters and other gestures of "legitimate" interest.
Does this scenario resemble your college recruiting experience?
If so, you probably want to know where to go from here. How do you distinguish legitimate opportunity from what you perceive as "mailing list-level" interest? How do you begin narrowing your college list from here? When and who should you visit this summer/fall, and how do you know if a scholarship is to be offered? Enter the tough questions.
In short, all college prospects have to do their part to proactively educate themselves about their collegiate opportunities. Exactly when you should turn the corner and begin finalizing your recruiting process depends on how far along you are, of course. If your experience sounds a lot like Joe's, for example, then you need to get serious and start asking coaches the tough questions.
But as parents, you also have to assume that your son/daughter is NOT the only one receiving genuine, sustained interest. In fact, your athlete might be one of 10, 20 even 50 kids who are being considered by XYZ University for the offer. So don't be shy. Dive into the deep end for some answers.
For starters:
Create your list of tough questions to ask.
Begin to hone in on your "short list" of colleges.
Summon a bit of courage and go for it!
After all, for college prospects - regardless of whether you're a big-time Division I candidate or a smaller-college prospect - the goal is the same: position yourself for opportunities, identify your choices, and make the absolute BEST college decision. And the only real way to fulfill your mission is to really know where you stand... even if the news is disappointing.
Start with these questions and see what happens. They aren't in any particular order, and you certainly don't have to ask them all. But they will help you gain a better understanding of your true status among your college favorites. And at least then you'll be able to re-evaluate your next steps if the answers you receive aren't exactly what you were hoping for.
Are you still recruiting me?
Where am I on your (recruiting) depth chart?
Am I still being considered for a scholarship offer?
Will you be extending me an official visit invitation?
What are the next steps I should take to keep me in consideration?
When can I expect to know what your final decision will be?
Do you have everything you need from me to make your decision?
Will my athletic & academic performance during my senior year affect my candidacy?
