Campus. Social life. Classes. Major. Location. Cost.
These are some of the biggest factors students weigh when applying to college. But for aspiring college athletes, there’s one more crucial piece to the puzzle: finding the right athletic program that fits their needs.
Beyond picking a school, athletes looking to continue their sport in college must navigate recruitment, build relationships with coaches and ensure the athletic program is the right fit, all while balancing the usual factors of the college decision process.
Senior Brayden Kenny, who has committed to play baseball at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, has been playing travel baseball since eighth grade and played on the U-High baseball team for four years.
“It’s about finding that match both with the school but also with the coaches,” Brayden said.
Senior Lucy Aronsohn committed to Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, for soccer after playing on both a travel team and the U-High team for four years. Considering her sport was just a piece of her college decision process.
“I would say definitely think about your sport and what you want to do with that, but also the college and the academics and social life is equally as important,” Lucy said.
A significant aspect of the requirement process is getting noticed by coaches from schools athletes are interested in. Exposure is key, and students must take the initiative to reach out, both Brayden and Lucy said.
“You wanna get exposure in front of those coaches,” Brayden said, “so whether it’s reaching out to them and saying, ‘Hey, I’m gonna attend this,’ or you might take a video or something or have some stats you send to them, you create that line of connection between you.”
During his last season at U-High, Brayden plans to continue working hard and training to prepare for his transition to college.
“Even though you have that relief of ‘I’m in, I did it,’ you wanna keep going and keep working,” Brayden said.
As Lucy finishes her final season at U-High as captain of the varsity girls soccer team, she recognizes the impact she can have as a role model for younger players aspiring to play in college.
Overall, navigating the process of recruitment requires dedication and hard work but can be incredibly rewarding.
“If you really are passionate about that and you really do love that sport,” Brayden said, “put as much effort as you can into making yourself the best because then it can get you into some really good colleges.”
