running in college
Important Information to help Student Athletes Run in College:
Form Archie William Runner who specialized in helping XC Runners and Track and Field Athletes into college programs -
https://instridecounseling.com/
Start by:
Reading the info below
Writing down:
- the schools you are most interested in and why you are interested in them
- what is important to you about the college you go to
- what do you HAVE to have at a school ( big school, small school, certain major, certain location, etc)
- Levels at college
1. Community college
Locally Santa Rosa Junior College (College of Marin has looked at starting a team recently)
Almost anyone can run here
Financial aid is need or academic rather than athletic based
2. NAIA
Scholarships offered. Primarily smaller private or religious colleges in California
Academic, athletic and need based scholarships
Level is usually around NCAA D2 level for the top end.
3. NCAA Division I
In California, schools like UCLA, Stanford, UCSB, Cal Poly, SLO, UC Berkeley, Loyola Marymout, USF, St. Mary’s, Pepperdine, etc
Top level of athlete competition. Scholarships offered
Less than 6% of high school athletes get recruited
Less than 2% of high school athletes get athletic scholarships
Far more get need based and academic based scholarships.
4. NCAA Division 2
In California Chico State, Cal State San Marcos, Azusa Pacific, Cal Poly, Pomona, Point Loma, San Francisco State,
Second tier of NCAA competition
Scholarship situation similar to Division I
5. NCAA Division 3
In California primarily private schools like Cal Lutheran, Pomona Pitzer, Claremont-Mudd, Occidental. Also UC Santa Cruz at the present time
Third tier of competition for NCAA
No athletic scholarships available. All money will come from academic or financial need.
What you should do
1. Research the colleges you want to attend (would start in the sophomore year)
Location
Possible visits
Academic programs
Cost
Financial aid available
Graduation rate
2. Research the cross-country and track and field programs
Stability of the coaching staff (part time or full time)
Emphasis of the program (track or cross-country-distance or other events)
Scholarship opportunities
Development of athletes—progression since high school
Emphasis on academics and academic resources available to student athletes
3. Be proactive
- Contact the programs directly at the beginning of your junior year
Make a personal contact with coach (may need to do more than once)
Call
Email
Text
Fill out on line questionnaire (do more than this)
Consider attending a camp at interested schools
If you are interested in a program, be consistent with contact
If you are no longer interested in a school, let the coach know
4. Be careful with social media
Universities and coaches do check this
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc
ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS
Have known coaches and schools to drop athletes and students because of social media image.
5. Possibly attend a camp at the university you would like to attend
Find out about the personality of the coach over the course of a week.
Get to work with current team members
View the institution in a realistic setting
Find out if you want to be in that environment on a regular basis
Other Stuff you should know
6. Track times are important: Especially the junior year
7. Grades are important: More 4.0s get recruited than 3.0s
Lots more academic money than athletic money
Know the required core classes
8. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and/or NAIA Eligibility Center
IF you have any desire at all to participate at NCAA or NAIA level
Do at the end of your junior year or beginning of senior year
Cannot go on an official visit without registering
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/eligibility-center
https://www.playnaia.org/eligibility-center
9. Official versus unofficial visit
Official: the school pays for most of your visit
Have to be invited
During your senior year
Max of 5 official visits
Unofficial: you pay for your visit entirely, Any year
10. Commitment versus letter of intent
Verbal commitment means you plan on attending this university
Do not make lightly, a letter of Intent means you have made a contract to attend this college and they are giving you something in return: Scholarship, FeesAs it is a contract, need to uphold your end of the bargain. Once you have committed, you should like other schools know of your decision.
11. Additional Questions, concerns
Ask your coach and/or your counselor. If you want more information about the process suggest checking out the eligibility centers for both NAIA and NCAA
Questions to ask:
Form Archie William Runner who specialized in helping XC Runners and Track and Field Athletes into college programs -
https://instridecounseling.com/
Start by:
Reading the info below
Writing down:
- the schools you are most interested in and why you are interested in them
- what is important to you about the college you go to
- what do you HAVE to have at a school ( big school, small school, certain major, certain location, etc)
- Levels at college
1. Community college
Locally Santa Rosa Junior College (College of Marin has looked at starting a team recently)
Almost anyone can run here
Financial aid is need or academic rather than athletic based
2. NAIA
Scholarships offered. Primarily smaller private or religious colleges in California
Academic, athletic and need based scholarships
Level is usually around NCAA D2 level for the top end.
3. NCAA Division I
In California, schools like UCLA, Stanford, UCSB, Cal Poly, SLO, UC Berkeley, Loyola Marymout, USF, St. Mary’s, Pepperdine, etc
Top level of athlete competition. Scholarships offered
Less than 6% of high school athletes get recruited
Less than 2% of high school athletes get athletic scholarships
Far more get need based and academic based scholarships.
4. NCAA Division 2
In California Chico State, Cal State San Marcos, Azusa Pacific, Cal Poly, Pomona, Point Loma, San Francisco State,
Second tier of NCAA competition
Scholarship situation similar to Division I
5. NCAA Division 3
In California primarily private schools like Cal Lutheran, Pomona Pitzer, Claremont-Mudd, Occidental. Also UC Santa Cruz at the present time
Third tier of competition for NCAA
No athletic scholarships available. All money will come from academic or financial need.
What you should do
1. Research the colleges you want to attend (would start in the sophomore year)
Location
Possible visits
Academic programs
Cost
Financial aid available
Graduation rate
2. Research the cross-country and track and field programs
Stability of the coaching staff (part time or full time)
Emphasis of the program (track or cross-country-distance or other events)
Scholarship opportunities
Development of athletes—progression since high school
Emphasis on academics and academic resources available to student athletes
3. Be proactive
- Contact the programs directly at the beginning of your junior year
Make a personal contact with coach (may need to do more than once)
Call
Text
Fill out on line questionnaire (do more than this)
Consider attending a camp at interested schools
If you are interested in a program, be consistent with contact
If you are no longer interested in a school, let the coach know
4. Be careful with social media
Universities and coaches do check this
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc
ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS
Have known coaches and schools to drop athletes and students because of social media image.
5. Possibly attend a camp at the university you would like to attend
Find out about the personality of the coach over the course of a week.
Get to work with current team members
View the institution in a realistic setting
Find out if you want to be in that environment on a regular basis
Other Stuff you should know
6. Track times are important: Especially the junior year
7. Grades are important: More 4.0s get recruited than 3.0s
Lots more academic money than athletic money
Know the required core classes
8. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and/or NAIA Eligibility Center
IF you have any desire at all to participate at NCAA or NAIA level
Do at the end of your junior year or beginning of senior year
Cannot go on an official visit without registering
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/eligibility-center
https://www.playnaia.org/eligibility-center
9. Official versus unofficial visit
Official: the school pays for most of your visit
Have to be invited
During your senior year
Max of 5 official visits
Unofficial: you pay for your visit entirely, Any year
10. Commitment versus letter of intent
Verbal commitment means you plan on attending this university
Do not make lightly, a letter of Intent means you have made a contract to attend this college and they are giving you something in return: Scholarship, FeesAs it is a contract, need to uphold your end of the bargain. Once you have committed, you should like other schools know of your decision.
11. Additional Questions, concerns
Ask your coach and/or your counselor. If you want more information about the process suggest checking out the eligibility centers for both NAIA and NCAA
Questions to ask:
- What is a typical week like for your runners
- What is your practice schedule