Questions to Ask as You Consider Colleges
you may wish to attend.

Athletics
  1. What positions will I play on your team? It is not always obvious. Most coaches want to be flexible, so you
    might not receive a definite answer.
  2. What other players may be competing at the same position? The response could give you an idea of when
    you may expect to be a starter.
  3. Will I be red shirted my first year? That particular schools policy on red shirting may impact you both
    academically and athletically.
  4. What expectations do you have as far as training and conditioning are concerned? This will reveal the
    school's commitment to training and conditioning as well as being competitive in the given sport.
  5. How would you describe your coaching style? This is the time to find out if the coach's style will be
    compatible with your learning style as every coach has a particular teaching style that involves different
    motivational techniques as well as discipline policies.
  6. How long is the coaches contract and how long is he or she planning on coaching? This can be a very
    important question if you are leaning to one school because of a particular coach. Don't assume that the coach
    will be at the school for the duration of your education. If he or she were to leave would you still want to attend
    that school?
  7. What are preferred, invited and uninvited walk on situations? How many do you expect to compete?
    How many earn a scholarship? This situation will vary from school to school.
  8. Are you recruiting anyone else for my position? Coaches may consider as many student-athletes as they
    wish for each position.
  9. Is medical insurance provided by the college or is my own medical insurance policy required for
    participation? Each school has a different policy so you may be required to provide proof of insurance.
  10. If I am injured while competing, who is responsible for my medical expenses? Again each school is
    different and you should have their policy in writing.
  11. What happens if I want to transfer to a different school? You may not transfer without the permission of
    your current school's athletics administration. Ask how often coaches grant this permission and ask for an
    example of a situation in which the permission was not granted.
  12. What are some of the other factors I should consider when choosing a college? Be realistic about your
    athletics ability and the type of athletics experience you would enjoy. Some student-athletes want to be part of a
    particular athletics program, even if that means little or no playing time. Other considerations include coaching
    staff and style. Of course, the ideal is to choose a college or university that will provide you with both the
    educational and athletics opportunities that are right for you.

Academics
  1. How good is the department in my major? How many students are enrolled in that department? What
    credentials do faculty members hold? What is the student teacher ratio? What are the graduates
    from the program doing after school? Do you offer job placement? These are just some of the very
    important questions you should be asking during the school selection process.
  2. What percentage of players on scholarship graduate? The response will suggest the school's commitment
    to academics. You may want to ask the two follow up questions: What percentage of incoming students
    eventually graduate and what is the current team's grade point average?
  3. What academic support programs are available to student athletes? Look for a college that will help and
    encourage you to become a better student.
  4. If I have a diagnosed and documented disability, what kind of academic services are available?
    Special academic services may help you achieve your academic goals and some schools may be more
    accommodating than others.
  5. How many credit hours should I take in season and out of season? It is important to determine how many
    credit hours are required for your degree and what pace you will follow to obtain that degree.
  6. Are there restrictions in scheduling classes around practice? NCAA rules prevent you from missing class
    for practice.
  7. Is summer school available? If I need to attend summer school will that be paid for by the college?
    You may need to take summer school  to meet academic and/or graduation requirements.

College Life
  1. What is a typical day like for the student athlete? The answer will give you a good idea of how much time is
    spent in class, practice, study and travel. It will also give you a good indication of what the coaches will expect
    from you.
  2. What are the residence halls like? The response should give you a hint of how comfortable you would be in
    your room, study areas, community bathrooms and at the laundry facilities. Also ask about the number of
    students in a room, co-ed dorms and the rules governing life in the residence halls.
  3. Must student-athletes live on campus? If the answer is yes ask about possible exceptions.
Copyright ©2008 Equestrian College Recruiter "LLC"  All rights reserved.
All trademarks contained herein are owned by their respective companies or Equestrian College Recruiter "LLC"