This is a little long, but these are the questions we asked at most of the schools we looked at. If they really want to sell you on their school and program, they will take the time to answer ALL of your questions.
EDUCATION
1. Does the school offer the courses and type of program I want?
2. How good is the department in my major?
3. What is the Student / Teacher ratio?
4. What percentage of athletes on scholarship graduate?
5. Does the school offer a high quality education?
6. Does the school offer services I need and activities I’m interested in?
7. What are job placement rates for students who have recently graduated?
8. What academic support programs are available for athletes
9. How many credit hours should I take in season and out-of-season?
10. Are there restrictions in scheduling classes around practice:
11. Am I assigned an advisor in the beginning?
FINANCIAL AID / GRANTS / SCHOLARSHIPS
1. What type of loans / scholarships / grants / aid is available?
2. When can I apply?
3. How much is available?
4. Federal Pell Grants
5. What are my opportunities for employment while I am a student? As an athletes, would I be eligible for Federal Work-Study?
6. How long does my scholarship last?
7. Exactly how much will the athletics scholarship be? What will and will not be covered?
8. Am I eligible for additional financial aid? Are there any restrictions?
9. Who is financially responsible if I am injured while competing?
10. Under what circumstances would my scholarship be reduced or cancelled?
11. Are there academic criteria tied to maintaining the scholarship?
12. What scholarship money is available after eligibility is exhausted to help me complete my degree: (it may take longer than 4 years to complete a degree)
13. What scholarship money is available if I suffer an athletics career-ending injury?
14. Will my scholarship be maintained if there is a change in coaches:
COSTS
1. Actual Tuition & fees – any waiver for out-of-state student athletes? What will my final costs be?
2. Room and board (is it covered or can it be included in student loans)
3. Cost of books, supplies, and miscellaneous expenses (include a reasonable amount for a personal computer)
4. Transportation Allowance
5. Out-of-pocket expenses
COLLEGE LIFE
1. What is a typical day for a student-athlete?
2. What kind of facilities does the college have available?
3. What are the residences halls like? Do the athletes stay in a certain dorm?
4. Do student-athletes have to live on campus? If yes, what are expectations?
5. Are freshman allowed to have a vehicle on campus?
ATHLETICS
1. What weight do you have me forecasted at
2. What others are you recruiting for my weight / around my weight / how many?
3. How many do you have in your program / approximately how many at each weight?
4. What is the possibility of being red shirted?
5. What expectations do you have for training and conditioning? Summer training?
6. How would you describe your coaching style
7. Do the other coaches and yourself work out with the wrestlers?
8. When does the head coach’s contract end – how long do you intend to stay?
9. What are preferred, invited, and uninvited walk-on situations? How many do you expect to compete: How many earn a scholarship?
10. Is medical insurance for athletes provided by the college? Is medical insurance required for my participation?
11. What happens if I want to transfer to another school?
12. What other factors should I consider when choosing a college?
13. What is school provided / supplied? Uniforms, bags, shoes, etc. – What will I need to provide?
14. If I redshirt, what does the college pay for / what am I responsible for – in and out of competition
15. When in competition, what expense does the school pay for
16. How much time will I be away from school / class while competing?
17. Out-of-pocket expenses?
18. Are laundry services provided for athletes or I am expected to do it all myself?
19. Are there fundraisers we will be expected to help with
20. What conference are you in and what teams compete?
RECRUITING TRIP
After each of the schools we visited, we told him to write down things that happened, dislikes, likes and how he actually felt he was treated and accepted. Did the coaches try to sell him on the school and their program, did they take the time to visit with him, answer all his questions, or did they kinda brush him off?
We told him to rate each of the colleges 1-5 and hopefully that would help him make the "best" decision for him. I can tell you from experience, each college does things very differently on the recruiting trips!!
If you want to ask specific questions, please feel free to email me at gratergr@kansas.net
Leanna Grater
