Senior Year
The final year of high school is an exciting time. It is also an anxious time as students make their choice regarding what college or university he or she will be attending. The best way to make this process enjoyable and get to the correct decision is to be organized and follow a process. This section of the site outlines several elements that you should follow for this important year in your life.
To Do List for Seniors: 
- If you have not taken your SAT’s, make sure to do so. Remember, many colleges have SAT II requirements. If you are not content with your SAT II scores from junior year, retaking them cannot hurt.
- In the classroom, do not enter senior slump during the first semester! You have to maintain a challenging schedule- and do well. Colleges look very closely at first semester grades from senior year.
- Keep in contact with your college guidance counselor. Make sure he/she knows your feelings about each school on your preliminary list. Ask him/her your honest chances of getting into each college.
- Narrow your list of schools down to about 3-5 (not including safeties) with your parents and counselor. If there is one school that is your clear favorite, consider applying early.
- Make sure that you have the applications for each school in which you are interested. Begin working on the applications as early as possible- applying to college is a time-consuming task that should not be left for one weekend.
Official Visits
Official visits (or recruiting trips) are perhaps the best way for you to find out where you will best fit in, and where you want to study. An official visit is an expenses-paid visit for recruits and programs to learn more about each other. The rules regarding official visits differ upon the school’s division. See the “Recruiting Rules” Section for more information.If you are going to apply early, make sure you plan your trips as early as possible, to leave yourself enough time to make an informed decision.
You only have 48 hours to visit the campus, so make the best of every minute. Try to plan your trip so that your official visit starts on a Friday morning. This allows you to see what a typical weekend is like. If you plan your visit far enough in advance, you should make sure you can sit in on some of the classes that interest you. Make sure to inform the coach of your preferences.While attending classes, notice their size and atmosphere. Notice the ability of the professor. Would you feel comfortable learning in this environment?
Important Questions to Ask:
- Ask about which classes are interesting or fun.
- Ask about how difficult it is to balance academics, athletics, and social life.
- Ask the team members about the practices and weight program.
- Ask athletes if they have improved while at this school and whether or not they have enjoyed themselves.
- Ask what other schools team members applied to and why they ended up at that particular school.
- Ask the coach what the average GPA and SAT is on the team and the university as a whole to see if you could handle the academics of the school.
- Ask the coach what percentage of his/her players stay on the team all four years.
Ask Yourself:
- Is the coach’s style is compatible with your personality and with my goals? See where your athletic ability would put you on the roster and in conference play.
- Will I be happy here, and can I see myself living at the college for the next four years? Look around you and see if people are enjoying themselves.
|
Level
|
Telephone |
Email/Mail |
Personal Contact |
Official Visits |
|
Division I
|
--Coaches can make one call during May of junior year
--Coaches may not call again until September 1 of senior year
--Coaches may call once a
week
--Coaches may make unlimited calls:
1) During contact period
2) During 48 hours before and after signing letter of intent |
--After September 1 of junior year |
--On or after July 1 after junior year Coach may visit school once per week during contact period
--Coach may contact recruit up to six times off-campus
|
--One expense paid visit after beginning of senior year-can include round-trip transportation, meals, lodging, and admission to athletic events
--A student host may spend up to $30 per day for entertainment costs
--Visit may not exceed 48 hours
--Limit of five different schools
--Recruit must provide school with transcript and score from PSAT, SAT, ACT, or PACT Plus before his/her visit
|
|
Division II
|
--On or after June 15 before senior year
--Coaches can make one call per week
--Coaches may make unlimited calls:
1) During contact period
2) On date of signing letter of intent and 48 hours after
3) Five days before your official visit
4) On day of off-campus contact |
--After September 1 of junior year |
--On or after June 15 before senior year
--Coach may visit school once per week during contact period
--Coach may contact recruit up to three times off-campus
|
--One expense paid visit after beginning of senior year-can include round-trip transportation, meals, lodging, and admission to athletic events
--A student host may spend up to $30 per day for entertainment costs
--Visit may not exceed 48 hours
--Limit of five different schools
--Recruit must provide school with transcript and score from PSAT, SAT, ACT, or PACT Plus before his/her visi |
|
Division III
|
No Restrictions |
No Restrictions |
After junior year - No limitations
|
--One expense paid visit after beginning of senior year-can include round-trip transportation, meals, lodging, and admission to athletic events
--A student host may spend up to $20 per day for entertainment costs
--Visit may not exceed 48 hours
--No limit to the number of schools recruit may visit
|
|
