Melissa Collier - Stevens Institute of Technology
The most challenging part for me had to be the final decision. Once the coaches and colleges started to become interested, it was difficult deciding where I wanted to go. It was also hard because I felt bad turning down coaches, but I learned that it was best to let them know how I felt so that they wouldn’t waste their time.
Honestly, the best part was seeing how many coaches were interested in me. It was overwhelming in a good sense of the word and I enjoyed every moment of it.
NCSA helped me keep my recruiting information organized. They also gave me tips on how I should communicate with coaches to get the best out of the conversations. Having the profile was also very useful because instead of having to always send tapes and DVDs, I could just send my profile link to coaches that were interested.
I would say that anyone going to the process should make sure to be decisive. If you don’t like a school, don’t beat around the bush with the coach; just let them know so that they can move on. Stay on top of calling and emailing because it’s important to uphold good relations with them as well. Also, be sure to thank NCSA for all their help along the way because they do an amazing job and they are very easy to work with!!
Being a college athlete is amazing. It takes a lot of dedication and focus but it is also a fun journey. You learn a lot not only in your sport but in the classroom as well. It is an experience that you will take with you even after you graduate.
For me personally, balancing athletics and academics is not hard. It requires discipline and good time management but other than that, it is no different than balancing High School and athletics.
