Subscribe to the NCSA BlogThe Truth About Official Visits – Part 2
November 11th, 2009 - byHow do I schedule visits?
The key to setting up visits is coordinating with the coach. You must call or email the coach to inform him or her that you are coming to campus and would like to set up a meeting. Always contact the coach well in advance. If you do not let a coach know about your visit you are not maximizing your time and you will miss out on opportunities to learn more about the school.
I recommend sending an introduction email, then follow-up with a phone call to the coach. If you already have a relationship with the coach it should be easy. Just ask, “Coach, I am narrowing down my visit choices and would like to come to your school. Are you offering an official visit at this time?” or if you have not spoken to the coach, your letter could look like this:
I am in the process of narrowing down my college visit choices, and would like to clarify a few things. First, let me say that I am very interested in (school name), because (research). I would be very excited for a chance to come visit (school name). I am dedicated to finding the right fit and have done the research on my end. (School name) offers (academic, athletic, social, fact that interests you).
(IF Senior) Am I of the caliber that you would consider to offer a visit? If so, when are you offering your official visits? (IF Sophomore or Junior) I understand the dead periods for this year are December 22nd-January 1st, January 12th-15th, and February 2nd-5th. So, besides those times, when would be a good time for me to meet you? Possibly for a game, I see you are playing (other team name) on the (date).Would that be a good time to visit?
I truly appreciate your feedback and hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks,
You Name and Info
What should I bring?
• Pen
• Paper (TAKE NOTES)
• List of questions you have
• Contact Person’s info (especially on a game day visit)
• Itinerary (if provided)
• Copies of Film (1-3 DVDS should suffice)
• Transcript
• Profile (printed out version)
What should I wear and how should I look?
• Collared Shirt, nice jeans or khakis
• No jewelry
• Clean shaven
• No Hats/Hoodies/Letterman Jackets (everyone is going to have them on, and you want to separate yourself from the pack)
• Look the coach in the eye and give them a firm handshake
What exactly will I do on a visit?
Tour the Campus, meet with the coach, meet the players, tour the facilities, meet with admissions, possibly attend an athletic event, possibly stay overnight with a player. If possible, I recommend staying overnight with a player. It will give you the best overall feel for the school and the opportunity to speak with someone who has been in your shoes!
Here is a sample itinerary
Friday, January 15
3:37 p.m. Arrive at City Metro Airport on Flight #1111.
4:45 Check into the Campus Hotel – Home of the Hawks.
4:30-7:30 Welcome Reception at Campus Hotel. Meet your host, Joe Smith.
6:30 Dinner at Main Street Station with Coach Jackson and Joe Smith.
After dinner, free time with Joe.
Saturday, January 16
8:00 a.m. Wake-up call.
9:00 Breakfast at new Chemistry Building Atrium with Hawk coaches.
10:00 Academic Presentation at Student Auditorium – by John Harris,Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Services.
10:30 Meet with Helen Thompson, Professor of Business Administration,School of Business.
12:15 p.m. Lunch at Student Union with Hawk Football Staff.
2:00 Hawk vs. Lions basketball game in Smith Arena.
4:30 Tour Game Day Center and Hall of Legends.
6:30 Reception at Game Day Center with Hawk Football Staff.
7:00 Dinner served in Hall of Legends Commons.
After dinner, free time with Joe.
Sunday, January 17
8:00 a.m. Wake-up call.
*Church is available if you wish. We will help you get to Church.
8:30-11:00 Join staff for Brunch at Hall of Legends Commons.
Clear up any unfinished business.
11:15 Leave campus for the airport.
12:15 p.m. Depart City Metro Airport on Flight #1114
The college you are visiting may compete against another university that is recruiting you. Don’t worry, this is a good thing. Always be up front with both coaches and you should avoid any uncomfortable situations.
What should I be looking for on a visit to determine whether the school is a good fit?
When you’re on a visit make sure you get along with everyone and you feel that you will be able to have a good relationship with them. This is why asking questions and being proactive is so important. You will need to talk with the coaches and open communication lines now to help determine which schools will be the best fit for your needs and personality. Make sure your future teammates on the team seem friendly, fun, and that you will be able to make friends with them too!
Evaluate how they interact with the coaches. Do they get along? Do they have fun? Do they respect them? These factors are the MOST IMPORTANT when on a visit. You should be able to see the positive interactions between the coaches and the players. These people will become your family for the next four yours, and hopefully the rest of your life. Visit with players. Talk with freshmen and sophomores to get their perspective on first-year experiences. Take notes regarding your visit.
Focus on: names and titles of people you meet, conditions of facilities and equipment, impressions and policies.
What questions are appropriate to ask?
Ask questions that you help you determine whether or not the school is a good fit. Don’t spend too much time on questions the website can answer. For example don’t ask “what is the enrollment?” Do ask “Coach, where do you see me fitting in with your team?”
Will a coach ask me to commit?
As a senior, the coach will show what they have to offer and will most likely give you an offer at the end of the trip. That could be an athletic offer or other types of aid. They may ask you to verbally commit, but you do not need to commit on a visit. You can turn them down, give them your verbal, or ask for more time to go home and consider all the options and opportunities from other schools. You should try to take all five official visits, or at least as many as you can to make the best decision.
*Always ask the coach how long the offer is on the table or if they are going to offer someone else.*
What should I do after the visit?
Always write a thank-you letter to the coach after your visit!
As I mentioned last week, if you are a senior and have yet to explore the opportunity to take an official visit then I encourage you to click here. For the underclassmen who cannot yet take official visits, make sure you are taking all the right steps in the recruiting process to ensure that come senior year you will be in the best position possible!
