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DyeStat Scholar
Karen's Diary, Part 2
Planning College Visits
New luggage and lots of questions
by Karen Freberg
A senior at Arroyo Grande CA, Karen is the US#2 shot
putter for the 2000 outdoor season--EDITOR
Well, two months have passed since college coaches could begin talking to prospective high school student-athletes. Our phone has been ringing! The part I like is when they all start off by saying, "we have a full scholarship for you." That makes me feel like all the hard work of the past years is really going to pay off. My dad reminds me that you have to love the 'process' of hunting for the right school. I agree that talking with coaches is an important part in making an informed decision. Here are a few observations that you might find interesting or amusing.
1) I discovered that coaches get really excited if a rival school in their conference is also recruiting you. I usually don't give coaches the whole list of who is recruiting me, but they seem to know anyway. I think they all talk to each other. One coach even joked with me that if I didn't choose his school then I probably wouldn't like his rivals either. I think the reason that coach started thinking seriously about me at this point is that he didn't want me competing against him.
2) One coach suggested that my parents join me in an official visit, at their (my parents') expense of course. But this brings up a good question as to whether or not you want your parents to come along. I have traveled a lot. I've even been to Raratonga and Tasmania, so I know how to get around airports. Although I can always count on my folks for advice, my dad feels strongly that choosing a school and a program is a decision that I need to feel comfortable with and make myself. When you're visiting a school, you have to imagine what it would be like to be a student there, and your parents aren't going to college with you! When the choice gets serious, I know I can count on my parents' input.
3) My dad is very practical and our old family luggage is very indestructible. It is as strong as it is ugly. It will last forever, in spite of airport conveyor belts. I am not going on my trips with those ugly things! I took some of my savings and bought a purple (my favorite color) suitcase and tote with a retractable handle and rollers. I love it. This is a little thing, but it was important to me and I will feel good about any trip I take with it. I'm also going to buy some new clothes, so I can look and feel confident. I may even have to get some cold weather stuff for my later trips.
4) In planning for a trip, I think it's best to talk to athletes who have gone through the process themselves. I have talked to a lot of people about what I should do on college visits and I have some ideas. I really want to see what life is like for student-athletes at the school and try and experience it as best I can. Everybody says you should talk to the other athletes, including some in other sports, at least once without the coaches there. They'll give you the straight scoop. Here are some of the other questions I have. Where would I stay and eat my meals? Where would I train and lift weights? Are sports important on campus? What are the classes like? What majors are available? When do you have to pick a major? Will I like my teammates? What is the local area like? City? Farms? My mom is a college professor and she has advised me to also talk to the faculty and staff while I am visiting.
5) Most of the coaches want you to visit starting on Fridays while their classes are in session, and then you would stay for part or all of the weekend to go to football games and look around. This means missing school days for you, and probably most of your high school's football games, too. Keeping up academically is a challenge, and scholarship offers don't mean much if you don't graduate. Five trips means at least 5-10 days of school absence in a short period of time, and that can really mess up your grades. I am letting my teachers know ahead of time so I can do the work before I go.
6) Some of the coaches want to come visit me. I guess they want to see me in my "natural habitat!" My mom is really freaking out about our house, and she's painting our hall bathroom. Again. The coaches want to visit my school, talk with my dad and other coaches, watch my workouts, etc. I guess it doesn't hurt that we live along the beautiful central coastline of California�.lots to see and do.
So these are a few of the things I have had to think about. Probably the toughest thing to do has been to tell coaches that you are not interested in visiting their school. After all, you can't go everywhere (the NCAA limits you to five trips at the schools' expense) and you really shouldn't try. You don't want to "string along" any coaches if you're not interested in their school, because you're running up their phone bill and possibly keeping them from recruiting another athlete.
I will take my first trip in a couple of weeks. I am very excited. As for the future, there is an early signing period for track in November. I am going to give that some serious consideration. I like the idea, if I have a clear decision by then. The athletes who have done this feel that they can better concentrate on their last season. It also helps in planning for your future. My sister accepted an early appointment to West Point and feels that it made her senior year in high school less stressful and more enjoyable. I just have to see what develops.
To my fellow seniors, have you been writing to schools that interest you like I suggested last time? Let me know, I'd like to hear from you. I know that you are out there because my web page counter jumped from 3000 hits to over 5000 in the last few weeks! (In spite of the fact the counter has been off line some of the time.)
If you have any questions or thoughts feel free to email me at [email protected]� and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Good Luck in your plans!
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