The best way for an athlete to get themselves in a position of knowing which school to select to continue their education and athletic careers is to get out on the road and take an unofficial visit ((What is the best way for an athlete to get noticed and …. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006042221706)). With my oldest daughter, I visited ten different colleges. These trips were essential to her decision-making process. I thought that it would be helpful to create a set of key evaluation points that can be utilized as a conversation starter with your child.
1. Location
Proximity to Home
It is important to some athletes that attend a university close to home. To others, they are willing to go anywhere in the country. While it is true that it is your child’s choice, many parents need to have their child a reasonable driving distance from home so they can still attend many of their games. While the distances may be the same, the type of drive is also a factor. I can tell you that the trip to Bemidji State in Minnesota was a lot different for my family than when we drove to Saint Louis University in Missouri. The only way to know is to get on the road and take the trip.
Size of the City
The size of the city that the college is in can be a significant factor in the decision-making process. Does your child prefer a sizeable urban environment or a small country town? Perhaps a bigger city would provide more social options, better opportunities for internships, or a variety of volunteering options. Many kids may feel overwhelmed by a big city and want the slower pace of a small town.
Climate
For my oldest daughter, the climate of South Carolina was an important factor in her decision to attend Presbyterian College. The thought of warmer winters and the school’s proximity to the ocean was very exciting to her. For many other athletes, this is not as important of a factor. It is definitely something to consider.
2. Academics
Majors and Specialized Programs
While the focus on the game of basketball for an athlete is front and center, the essential aspect for your child is the academics of the school that they are considering. Any school that they select should have the programs in which your child has an interest or a passion. For example, if your child wants to study Biology, find out the reputation of that program at the university that you are visiting ((51 Applying to College – Michigan. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/applying_to_college_370136_7.pdf)). A meeting with the department head and a tour during a visit can be constructive ((Tecnológico de Monterrey Interview Questions in United …. https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/Tecnol%C3%B3gico-de-Monterrey-US-Interview-Questions-EI_IE116703.0,24_IL.25,27_IN1.htm)). When my oldest daughter visited Trinity Christian in Illinois, the biology professor brought us to their cadaver lab. I must admit that I got sick, but it was good to see my daughter’s excitement in putting on rubber gloves to examine the cadavers.
Class Size
If you are attending a Big Ten university, your entry-level classes could likely have 200 to 300 students. This can be daunting for many first-year college students. I know that the average class size was a big question that my daughter asked on her college visits. She opted to commit to a very small school where the average class size 14 to 17 students. This was the best fit for the way she learns.
3. Campus Life
Dorm’s and Off Campus Housing
Your child will want to see the dorms that they will be living in during their freshman year. The dorm room could be set up with a bathroom, or the facility could have a community bathroom. The dorm could be set up apartment- style with separate bedrooms, or it could be just one room. Seeing the setup will help them to visualize their life on campus. It is also important to see both the upperclassmen dorms and off-campus housing options for their later years at the school.
Social Atmosphere
As much as college is an athletic and academic journey in today’s world, students are also looking forward to their independence from the nuclear family. They will want to see all of the fun things that they can experience on or around campus. Is the college noted for a vibrant “party” atmosphere, or is the school dry? I can guarantee you that your child is looking at these attributes, whether they share it with you or not ((Stephanie S., Pet Care Provider from Parkville, MD …. https://www.sittercity.com/pet-sitting/md/parkville/12904306)).
Religion
On some of the visits that I had with my daughter, the religious affiliation of the school can play an essential factor in social life on campus. Many schools have mandatory religious classes and chapel hours that students must elect and attend. The importance of religion in your child’s life could be a significant factor in the selection of a college.
Big Time Athletics, Clubs, Organizations, and Greek Life
My oldest daughter loves going to football games. She would always tell me that she wanted to go to a school that had a football program. The attraction of attending a big university with significant basketball and football programs can be important to young men and women. Various clubs and organizations can allow students to take an active role in hobbies and issues that they are passionate about. Perhaps, your child will be interested in joining a Greek or Social fraternity to build a network of friends. It is prudent to check out what is available to them at the college.
4. Security
This has become a fundamental issue to me personally due to the civil unrest and lawlessness that has occurred in major cities across the United States recently. All parents want to be assured of their child’s physical well being. I can tell you that I will be looking very hard at the security that colleges provide to keep their students safe ((Palm Reading Please, I’m right handed m19 any information …. https://www.reddit.com/r/PalmReading/comments/ehxq7i/palm_reading_please_im_right_handed_m19_any/)).
5. Athletic Program
Coaching Staff
Your son or daughter must have a high comfort level with the entire coaching staff at the school that is providing the scholarship. They will be spending a substantial amount of time with them over the next four years ((Make Your Business Stand Out With A Columbia Janitorial …. https://www.southjan.com/make-business-stand-columbia-janitorial-service/)). It is a priority to me that they are genuine people with strong moral compasses. I want them to challenge my daughter to bring out the best that she has. I guess you will not know for sure until your child steps on campus. You will need to trust your gut and pray that your child makes the right decision.
I would like to share a story about a coach that my wife and I met on an official campus visit ((I would like to share a story about a… – 22 March For …. https://www.facebook.com/22MarchForLifeINC/posts/2129914933820924)). We arrived in the gym at 6:30 in the morning. We were standing with another recruit and her parents. We had never met the coach before. He came out and shook our hands. He did not make eye contact with us ((Paddy # – Reece’s Rainbow. https://reecesrainbow.org/117668/paddy)). He just talked to our child and waved us to the general direction of the gym if we wanted to stay and watch the practice ((Kandi Burruss and Tamar Braxton Fake the Funk for …. https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/01/22/kandi-burruss-and-tamar-braxton-fake-the-funk-for-celebrity-big-brother-after-having-epic-dust-up-in-2017/)). It gave us an uneasy feeling. As you could probably guess, our daughter did not select this school. The coach was extremely rude to our daughter when she called and told him that she was not going to accept the scholarship offer that he extended. Just as these coaches are looking at the character of our kids, be sure to trust your impressions of the coach’s character.
The last item of concern for me about the coaching staff is whether they will stay with that college over the next four years. I have a real fear of my daughter deciding on the school and then the coach leaving the school a year or two into her career there. While I know it is a business for the coaching staff, I hope that the coach is there for my daughter’s entire career at the school.
Winning Tradition
In my athletic career, I played at a college that had 26 straight winning seasons. There was an innate expectation that the team was going to win and compete for a conference championship every year. This just in: Winning is more fun than losing ((Rapid Reaction: Flyers (4–2) Continue to Exceed Expectations. https://medium.com/rookie-mistake/rapid-reaction-flyers-4-2-continue-to-exceed-expectations-d0b948622415)). This may or may not be a priority for you or your child, but it is definitely something to consider.
Attendance
While this may go hand in hand with a winning tradition, it would be a lot of fun to play in front of a gym full of fans for your child’s home games. We had visited a school located in a small city in the Midwest. The college was the centerpiece of the town. The gym was packed to the rafters at the game we attended ((Hawks take first rival game in new gym – Hampton. http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/newspapers/atlanticnews/2006/01-20-2006/Pages12and21.pdf)). It was an electric atmosphere. It would be a great place to play while in college ((The backyard of Graceland, it would be a great place to …. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/468796642445246914/)). I could see my daughter’s excitement at the game. It is a definite factor in the decision-making process.
Athletic Program Amenities
Colleges compete for recruits with the bells and whistles that they have in their program. Does the program have an impressive field house and locker room? What type of clothing and shoes do the athletes receive from the program? At one of the schools that we visited, the athletes are required to get their breakfast and dinner in a private room with the food prepared by their private chef. These are the fun things that can impact an athlete’s decision on a college.
Conclusion
I hope this article starts a conversation between you and your child to develop a set of criteria to be used to evaluate the colleges that they would like to attend. The criteria used will vary greatly from athlete to athlete and family to family. The important is to get your son or daughter to start asking themselves what exactly they are looking for and hoping for in their selection of a university.
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