Recruiting - What would you do again? What would you do differently?
- Thread starter JAD
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
Same: cast a wide net--contact many many schools to have options; stay organized in communications and communicate frequently with coaches through various means; keep the goal of a good education; consider location/communities of potential schools; understanding the importance of matching up tournament venues with the level of ball you want to play in college; working hard on game and never giving up,during recruiting process--it is truly a roller coaster.
Different: understand recruiting is taking place earlier and earlier and take this seriously; getting on a more competitive team one year earlier than we did; not attending as many camps- they are important but we attended way too many--$$-- should have been more selective in making sure DD was on their watch lists; relax a little more and let the process play itself out; not jumping on 1st offer for college spot and realizing that the right fit with all of DD's "must haves" would eventually come along
Different: understand recruiting is taking place earlier and earlier and take this seriously; getting on a more competitive team one year earlier than we did; not attending as many camps- they are important but we attended way too many--$$-- should have been more selective in making sure DD was on their watch lists; relax a little more and let the process play itself out; not jumping on 1st offer for college spot and realizing that the right fit with all of DD's "must haves" would eventually come along
- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,366
- 38
One additional thought from me - (I am only thinking about this in regards to the nerves of the family in the process of getting signed) :
Having the college offer signed/sealed/delivered is a priceless feeling. Make sure you consider the benefit of the decrease in tension for DD & the family by getting the deal done sooner than later. This last weekend with DD playing was one of the best times I have had. DD is not in her best form yet (given focusing on vb right now) but that didn't bother me. I could sit back, relax, and enjoy my family more and the trip to a much warmer state
. (ya probably revealing a fault of my own not able to relax - but is that like you too...?)
Having the college offer signed/sealed/delivered is a priceless feeling. Make sure you consider the benefit of the decrease in tension for DD & the family by getting the deal done sooner than later. This last weekend with DD playing was one of the best times I have had. DD is not in her best form yet (given focusing on vb right now) but that didn't bother me. I could sit back, relax, and enjoy my family more and the trip to a much warmer state
. (ya probably revealing a fault of my own not able to relax - but is that like you too...?)
Though a small portion of me wishes this process complete, the DD is dead smack in the middle of the recruiting process. She is the captain guiding her dream; I'm the navigator keeping the ship on course and occasionally step into the co-pilots seast if things begin to go off course.
Her recruiting net is wide since she started the recruiting process differently than most - the schools on her recruiting list are the academic places she'd like to study and thst also may have a softbal team. There are plenty of schools on the list(Vandy is a great example) that don't play softball. She had lots of looks at the Pennsbury Academic Recruiting Camp as a sophomore & will attend again in June as a junior. She isn't on any of the top 40 DI teams watch lists nor will you see her name published as a big verbal commit. Her club coach is not on any of the big name collegiate coach's speed dial fielding calls for a weekly progress update on the DD I assure you.
The schools she's interesetd in and that are interested in her really can't get serious until she sends her December ACT Scores. They just won't spend much time until she is within the range of Admissions eligibility; which is fine by us. Softball will be done and complete by age 22, her degree and collegiate network will last her a lifetime.
If she's lucky enough to attend her academic choice college and doesn't play softball, all good by me. We'll still go to paernets weekends & Homecoming, etc, no matter the distance.
Her recruiting net is wide since she started the recruiting process differently than most - the schools on her recruiting list are the academic places she'd like to study and thst also may have a softbal team. There are plenty of schools on the list(Vandy is a great example) that don't play softball. She had lots of looks at the Pennsbury Academic Recruiting Camp as a sophomore & will attend again in June as a junior. She isn't on any of the top 40 DI teams watch lists nor will you see her name published as a big verbal commit. Her club coach is not on any of the big name collegiate coach's speed dial fielding calls for a weekly progress update on the DD I assure you.
The schools she's interesetd in and that are interested in her really can't get serious until she sends her December ACT Scores. They just won't spend much time until she is within the range of Admissions eligibility; which is fine by us. Softball will be done and complete by age 22, her degree and collegiate network will last her a lifetime.
If she's lucky enough to attend her academic choice college and doesn't play softball, all good by me. We'll still go to paernets weekends & Homecoming, etc, no matter the distance.
Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Excellent post. Essentially, this is the approach my DD took and, realistically IMO, this is the approach that would benefit the majority i.e., those that are not top 25-50 D1 uber prospects. To me, it seems crazy that kids are picking schools freshman HS year or even earlier, strictly on the basis of softball, yet wait until Jr or even Sr year to think about what best suits them academically. Not the right aproach IMO when you consider college SB is a 4-year deal at most and may be even less due to injury or a change in priorities. Prioritize the student aspect over sport. I remain convinced that if you do your homework, you can find a good academic/softball fit for anyone who wants to go to college and play softball. If you thought travel ball was expensive, consider the cost of going to college only to play softball - yes, you can eventually recoup financially, but you can't ever reclaim lost time.
Looking back..........I would have saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico.
I had two DDs:
For DD#1, she and I should have had more discussions about what *SHE* wanted to do after college, and then based her college choice around her desires. As to DD#1, we did what most people do: We were chasing the dream of college softball without much thought about life after softball. DD#1 doesn't regret her choices, but I'm sure we could have found a better fit had "I known then what I know now."
For DD#3, we had the discussion about what she wanted after college. We found a great fit for her. I would have liked to have done a bit more for her as to finding the right college.
The big takeaway: College sports isn't what you think it is. It is more competitive than you can imagine. College coaches are just people. There is no perfect coach or perfect player. The only thing that really matters is the degree your DD gets when she graduates from college.
This is so important. Our philosophy with our DD was "Let softball get you a better education than you normally would have gotten without it". I don't want to offend anyone- everyone makes their own choices- but we really did not want her going to a less academically inclined school just so that she could play ball. And she wanted a degree from a school where she was proud to say she studied. We were very very VERY lucky (and she knows this as well) that she was recruited to one of her top choices, that had all the bells and whistles she wanted regarding athletics, that is also a top notch education. But she probably would not have been able to be admitted to this school without that little athletic "push". She is not IvyLeague type material- like the school's 3's Dad mentions, but she is attending an excellent school. Those in the recruiting process must keep their eyes on the prize- the education.
This is a great statement.
Thanks - great thread as we are starting the process as well. I had been wondering about early recruiting and how that meshes with the need for ACT/SAT scores, which don't happen until Fall (or even spring) of one's junior year. Has anyone had any experience with small, highly selective liberal arts colleges and what tuition and fees ultimately turn out to be? Many of these schools say that they don't offer any merit aid, and I keep hearing conflicting stories about D3 money otherwise.... say for example DD was fortunate enough to be admitted to a highly selective D3 - would we be looking at paying full freight minus any discount according to our FAFSA numbers? I think the possibility of student loans is definitely one to consider...? From those who have been there - was educational value a big consideration? Ultimate cost as it would relate to life after college?
Similar threads
