College Recruiting

• Engage in your classes, seek support from your teachers. Grades count. College coaches want to recruit successful student-athletes, not just athletes.
• Work on your athletics skills and training. Research and locate summer camps, programs, etc. that will help you continue to develop athletically in your sport. Explore camps that take place on college campuses or are run by college coaches. Coaches are your best resource for appropriate club teams, tournaments, showcases, etc.
• Ask your coaches for an assessment of your abilities. What can you work on both physically and mentally to be a better player? What kind of team player are you? What is my potential for growth within my sport? Accept feedback as a means for growth.
• Seek advice from College Counseling if you have questions about NCAA course requirements.
• Keep track of your athletic stats, awards received, leadership positions, etc.
• Play multiple sports. Be active and engaged.

Note: Jessica Raab in the College Office will serve as the Athletics liaison should you need support before you are assigned your College Counselor in 11th grade.

• Develop an academic plan (including standardized testing) for your Kent Denver experience.
• Continue to do your best in the classroom. If you have a goal to possibly compete in Division I or Division II, stay on course with the NCAA core course requirements. (Note: Kent Denver's graduation requirements more than fulfill the NCAA Division I/II core courses).
• Explore summer programs designed to help you address the areas of growth your coach has identified for you as an athlete. Go to camps/showcases. Again, coaches are your best resource when making summer plans.
• Begin to craft an athletic resume—see sample version here—which can be updated as needed and shared with coaches. Work with your coach on a highlight film (what is appropriate, how to send, etc.).
• With your parents, coach and College Counseling, begin to explore colleges in which you might be interested for both academic and athletic reasons. Familiarize yourself with the admission requirements. Your KDS advisor, class dean, and college counseling can also help with your junior year course selections relative to NCAA requirements and the emerging list of schools expressing interest in you as an athlete.
• Should you need an unofficial transcript for interested coaches please contact Jessica Raab.
• Keep playing multiple sports.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of the year. Get a clearinghouse number.

• Make an appointment with your college counselor to calculate your NCAA Core GPA (different from a Kent Denver GPA) and to finalize an individual standardized testing plan.
• Take the SAT/ACT (and TOEFL if appropriate). Make sure you send those scores to colleges and NCAA using code “9999.”
• Working with your college counselor, ask two teachers for letters of recommendation.
• Meet with your coach to discuss colleges you are interested in and others the coach would suggest. Work with your Kent Denver coach to create a plan for contacting those college coaches, to discuss getting a film or other supporting examples of your athletic abilities.
• Update your resume—see sample here—with new academic and athletic accomplishments. Make plans for unofficial visits as appropriate. Work on this list with your parents as well. Students own the process, but parents, counselors, and coaches are important members as well.
• Make sure you consult NCAA calendars for recruited athletes. Pay attention to rules and regulations!
• Finalize course selection for senior year with your KDS advisor and college counselor.
• Coaches will most often ask recruited athletes to visit early, research, and apply Early Decision; please make sure you discuss this with both your coach and college counselor.
  • Understand that this is a binding agreement; if you are accepted, you are committed to attend.
  • Identifying what financial aid will be available to you is important prior to applying ED - colleges can do an “early read” on what your financial aid package might look like. Net price calculators can be found on every institution’s website. These allow families to enter financial information from the previous two years and get an estimate of the financial aid package they can expect to receive based on need.
  • Please work with your college counselor on all financial issues.
• During the spring of junior year, meet with your college counselor and coach together to agree upon the best college search plan moving forward. 

• Continue to work with your Kent Denver college counselor to execute your college search plan.
• Update athletics resume; send to any new schools you are considering. Update your highlight film.
• Schedule official visits as appropriate (visits to Division III schools are not considered official).
• Work on the Common Application or the school’s individual application if they are not CA members; review the application with your college counselor, including the essay.
• Complete and file any financial aid paperwork required by each college (FAFSA, CSS Profile, etc.)
• Beware of deadlines – they are not flexible!