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DyeStat Scholar
Karen's Diary, Part 1
The recruiting season starts
All-American thrower Karen Freburg keeps a diary starting July 1
by Karen Freburg
July 1st is an important date for those of us finishing our junior year in high school. This is the time when college coaches can call. It is a very important time for us as well. We can begin to ask the tough questions that will help decide our future.
My first contact with colleges wasn't July 1st. My parents wanted me to start thinking about college when I finished my Freshman year. I wrote to a few schools and asked for some information on the college, my future major and something about their athletic program. I heard some stuff back but I was reminded that they couldn't contact me until July 1st after my Junior year. Rules ,Rules ,Rules. I guess it's important but I just wanted some information.
My mother and I set up a web page of my own (http://www.thegrid.net/freberg/karen.htm) as well as investing in a scholar-athlete page on Dyestat. These were the two smartest things we did! I know that the Dyestat page works because stuff comes to my post office box and my own web page has over 3000 hits since May 2000 alone when we put a counter on it! I mailed my web address and my Dyestat address to a few coaches so they could follow my progress.
July 1st came and I received calls from seven coaches. Most of the coaches were from schools I hadn't contacted and that was a big surprise! I don't want to waste anyone's time so I've thought a lot about what I want in a school and it boils down to this:
1) I need a scholarship. I know some schools split their scholarships and others really don't have anything, but I need one to go to college. I tell coaches this upfront. I don't want to waste their time or mine.
One college thought they could get me to go there for free! Ha! A girl friend of mine is also highly ranked nationally and was told by another major university that she could 'walk on'! Well, I think that school will have trouble recruiting down the road. We all talk on the internet, there aren't many secrets out there anymore!
2) There is an old Texas saying that my dad always quotes to us: "go with the one that loves you!" This means that it is important to go to a program in which you are really wanted and appreciated, even if it isn't a top throws school. Since I was born in Texas, I think it's a pretty cool idea.
3) You've got to like the coach and your team mates. I want to meet the folks who I will work with and the facilities have got to be cool. One school even has a combined athletic weight facility and dining hall! There's more to college than food, but it helps at least with recruiting throwers.
4) The location of the college or university is not as important as the opportunity. My sister is across the county at West Point and we see her a lot and she's having a great time! I'm talking to a few schools scattered around the country. They are all division 1 schools. Why? It's like they say: "that's where the money (scholarship) is!"
So who am I talking to? Well, I told Mr. Dye that I don't think the coaches would like their names or schools mentioned. They want their privacy too, but we thought we could talk in 'code'. In general, the Division 1 coaches I have talked to are very nice people and very professional.
As I have said, there were a few schools I have contacted and I will narrow it down this summer to the five schools that I am allowed to visit this fall. In July, I have told a couple of the schools that I will go back to see them. One is a super power midwest University and one is a singularly prestigious Ivy League.
Also, I am keeping a scrap book of the recruiting letters. Some are great and some are 'form letters'. I am saving them all! So far since September of last year I have over 50 letters from different schools.
In August, I have committed to visiting a well known Pac 10 power in the Pacific Northwest. They are pretty cool as well. According to the NCAA rules, I have two more travel opportunities which I may or may not make, we'll see.
I seems that I will have some very nice choices from some very nice schools with great coaches. I can see that it will be hard to choose, but that is why I will be making a few trips.
I'll let you know how my trips and calls go in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, for my fellow athletes I have a message: set up those web pages, write to schools that interest you and sign up for a web page with Dyestat! It doesn't get any better than this!
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