Welcome back to Recruiting Tip Tuesday! Today’s topic is being realistic during the recruiting process.
Warning: this topic is something not a lot of us want to hear. If you’re like me, most likely growing up you aspired to go to a standout college with a plethora of sporting events, entertainment and a degree that would be sure impress any employer in the world. As you continue along the golf journey and recruiting process you may start to see those dreams fade away. Mainly because:
- Your golf game isn’t quite at that level of competition
- Your grades may not meet the requirements of that school
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t communicate with top-notch programs. But beware, the dreadful no reply back from a coach is a tough pill to swallow. Being realistic with yourself requires an honest evaluation of your academic and athletic ability. If you are unaware of which colleges would be a match with your qualifications it’s best to do some research. Many high school counselors are also more than willing to help with those sorts of questions in the academic department.
Some other factors I believe are important when being realistic are:
Financial Aid
I had a friend in high school that had the athletic ability to play at a Division I program, but wasn’t receiving any full scholarship offers from higher DI schools. She decided that her and her family needed to consider a lower Division I to meet their financial needs. And bingo, she nailed a full scholarship for 4 years. It’s a give and take. She went from looking at SEC/Big 12 schools to AAC/WAC conference. It’s tough to give up a dream, but sometimes it the right thing to do.
Playing Time
Another example (which happens more frequently than not): I’ve seen a few of friends that didn’t quite have the athletic ability to play at a Division I program. But, they either had the grades or the financial help from their family. Some people would rather sacrifice an athletic scholarship for the chance to be on a sought after program. Sometimes it works out, other times it doesn’t. If you have the means and grades to attend a big school and walk on that team then by gosh more power to you. But, if you’re the type of person that wants to play rather than having a school golf bag and never stepping foot on the team for a tournament, consider options closer to your playing abilities.
Again, this isn’t my favorite topic of conversation and it probably isn’t yours either, but it’s important. If you or your parents need help more in this area don’t be afraid to give us a shout. We’re here to help! Until next week….
Fairways & Greens
-Maty
Contact Info
E: maty@tjgt.com
T: 214-448-8248