Recruiting Tip: Finding Your College Home

​                                          How to Find Your College Home 

Choosing the right college can sometimes seem like an overwhelming process. With so many choices and can be difficult to narrow down choices.
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Below are some main things to consider when making a college choice.


Know What You Want. No one, not a coach, not a parent- NO ONE- knows you better than you! You have to know what you want in a school and program. Does this school offer my major? Does classroom size matter to you? Do you care about off-campus things to do in the community, or perhaps what the cafeteria food is like? Learn what you want, what you need, and then make a list. Websites such as Niche have student reviews on most universities already available. The school’s website should provide answers to many of your questions.

Learn What the Program is About. Learn about the school, financial aid offerings, clubs, and track program by visiting their respective websites. Familiarize yourself with their coaches, recent school performances, and roster make-up (does this school recruit Florida athletes?). Coaches are always impressed when a potential recruit has already taken the initiative to learn something about a school.

Be Realistic. Be realistic about where your talents are and if you are a good fit for a particular program.  It’s important to find programs that fit your athletic abilities. Use the school’s website to review their Recruiting Standards and past performance list to see where you fit in with the existing talent on the team. Websites like TFRRS allow you to search individual schools and compare your best with current collegiate runners. which gives an athlete an idea on whether their talents align with a program’s philosophy. College Conferences is another useful resource.
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Make a list! Once you know what you want in a school, make a list and begin making contact. Visit your school’s athletic page and find those recruiting questionnaires. In addition to the questionnaire, athletes should send emails to the college staff (staff directories are easily found) as a follow-up. Emails should include basic contact and academic info, in addition to a link to your Florida Runners page. Click here for an Email example. Once communication is established between you and a program, be sure to nurture that relationship by returning texts, phone calls, and emails regularly.
Remember, communication works BOTH WAYS! Coaches love when recruits initiate the contact. It shows real interest and you are in control of the narrative. Meet updates or new test score results are things that should be conveyed when possible.

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