College Admissions Process for Student-Athletes – How to Maximize Your Summer as a Recruited Student-Athlete


June 12, 2019

By Kim Penney and Danielle Dunn, One-on-One Consulting

Besides playing on a club team, are you doing all that you can during the summer to improve your athletic skills and increase your chance of being recruited to play at the next level? Once you identify your list of colleges that fit you academically and socially, the summer months serve as an ideal time to help overlay the athletic fit.

Below are some activities that will assist you with this process:

1. Attend College Camps:
  • According to your list of desired colleges, research whether the coaches of those schools offer prospect camps.
  • Make a calendar reflecting all of the camp dates for each school, and then determine which camps fit your personal schedule and budget.
  • You should plan to participate in at least 2-3 camps per summer. If you are not certain that a school on your target list offers a prospect camp, email the coach directly to ask which summer camps he/she runs or works at that would be beneficial for you to attend.
  • Before attending a camp, be certain you fill out/update the online recruiting form for that college with your most recent GPA and test scores.
2. Attend Individual Summer Showcases/Tournaments:
  • If you compete on a club team, your summer may be filled with team-oriented showcases/tournaments, but if your schedule allows, you may want to supplement it with individual events that can also be great platforms for you to be seen by college coaches.
  • For example, we highly recommend trying out and competing in the Bay State Games, Massachusetts’ own Olympic-style sports festival for high school student-athletes. The 2019 Summer Bay State Games typically hold tryouts in June and the competitions are held for one week in July at local sports venues across the state. For more information, go to: https://www.baystategames.org/summer-sports
3. Get In the Gym:
  • Nothing replaces hard work. Talent alone will not suffice. To be a top college recruit requires discipline not only working on your sport skills but also in the gym.
  • Commit yourself to a strength and conditioning program that will increase your potential to be a stand-out recruit.  
Next BSG Blog Topic (Week of June 17, 2019) – Your Guide to a Successful Campus Visit
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