College Swimming FAQ’s

College FAQ

How do I get started? When should I start looking?

It is best to begin to look for colleges both in research and in unofficial visits or campus tours at the end of your sophomore year and beginning of your junior year. Doing a campus tour of any school you can or have interest in is the best way to figure out what you like or dislike in a college. If you have an idea of what you want to study in college, it may be best to look at schools that offer those programs. Researching schools that you have interest in before visiting will also guide you if you are really considering that school, and through your research you may find that you have some questions that you

would like to ask.

What level of competition is right for me? What is D1, D2, D3, and NAIA? College Club?

Using your times and goals, you should be able to determine the right level of competition for you. On this link, https://www.swimcloud.com/country/usa/college/, you can search different schools (D1,D2, D3, NAIA) and click on the recruiting tab located all the way on the right of the page. Teams usually have time standards that need to be met after your junior year, as well as when you would be an incoming freshman if you want to attend that school. Using this resource allows swimmers to have a good

gauge of times required to be on a specific team. Another way using the CollegeSwimming website to see what level of competition is right for you is by looking at the results tab. Here, you will find thousands of meets swum in the United States. If you simply search the college you are interested in, you will be able to see all of the meets they competed in. You should specifically look at the conference meets, as those

times are typically the basis of their recruiting guidelines. Coaches usually look for swimmers that can score top 16 or top 8 in at least 3 events in that conference.

What schools should I look at for specific academics?

In high school, many people think that you have to know what you are going to major in while looking at colleges. This is not true! Looking for schools which have multiple majors which fit your strengths and interests is key for your own academic success. Many students change their major at least once throughout their education, so do not feel as though you have to be locked into a major. Additionally, finding a swim team that prioritizes academics and offers support to students in their education is critical

to being a successful student-athlete. It is not uncommon for the transition from high school to college to be challenging, and having support in academics is very helpful.

How do I contact coaches?

At schools you have any interest in, reach out to the coach and express your interest! Do not wait for coaches to reach out to you. On many college websites there are also questionnaires that you can fill out, expressing your interest in their program. In your first messages, include your grade, school, top times, and club team. Coaches can not contact you until certain dates, so if you do not get a response, do not be discouraged. Here is a helpful link to know when coaches may reach out to you:

https://swimswam.com/ncaa-recruiting-rules-change-allow-earlier-recruiting-official-visits/.

 If coaches do not respond, or decline you, that is okay. Coaches are not only looking for certain time requirements, in some cases, but they are also looking to fill their roster with swimmers who can compete in the strokes they need.

What questions should I ask the coaches?

When talking with coaches, it is best to begin by asking them questions regarding academics. In the long run, you are attending college to receive an education and academics take precedence over everything else. A few questions to ask coaches in regards to academics are:

● What kind of academic support is provided to student-athletes on campus?

● What majors are most common on your team? Are there any majors that people are unable to do when competing on the time (because of time commitment)?

● Does the coaching staff stress the importance of academics?

As you begin to form a relationship with the coach you are talking to, you can begin to ask questions regarding athletics, living situations, campus life, food, social life, etc. Some good questions to ask in this realm are:

● How do my times fit in with your team? Where do you think I would fit in?

● What are the housing requirements for student-athletes? (Do they live together?)

● What is a typical day like for a student-athlete?

● What is the athletic training support like for the team? Are there other systems of support in place for student-athletes?

● What does the team do for fun on days off?

● What do the meal plans look like?

These are all great starting questions to ask coaches when talking to them on the phone. If you ever get to the point where you take a visit, or meet members of the team, you may have your own personal questions that you want to ask.

When should I take a visit? Official recruiting visit? Unofficial? Academic campus tour? How many am I allowed?

Taking any type of visit during the school year is very ideal. Seeing a campus during the

academic year offers a sense of what it is like on campus as a student. While visiting in the summer is great too, consider the student life and differences you may see while being a student there. You can take academic campus tours at any school at any time the school offers them. Beginning with these kinds of visits or taking unofficial visits if you have been in contact with the coach is a great way to see the campus and understand the general information about the school. If you really do not like the school, this is a good way to start narrowing down your list. The difference between campus tours and unofficial visits is that the coach is typically involved in an unofficial visit and you may have meetings with the coach or get to watch a practice. An academic campus tour is strictly a tour of the campus, and any meetings will be with financial advisors or other academic professionals. If coaches are very interested in you, they will invite you to take an official recruiting visit. Oftentimes, this includes an overnight stay with the team. These are typically offered after you have spoken to the coach a few times or after you have gone on an unofficial visit, when the coach is interested in having you on the team. Official visits allow you to see the team dynamic, potentially watch a practice or meet, and see campus from the view of a student.

How should I narrow down schools?

Narrow down schools by considering what you like best. Through seeing multiple college campuses, you will understand what you like or dislike about a school. Consider academics first, then athletics when choosing, because ultimately, you are attending college to get a degree. Find teams that you can be competitive with, and schools that have majors for what your general interests are.

Once I narrow them down, how do I know the right school to pick?

Once you narrow down your choices to a few top contenders, make sure you have gone to visit the school, and do an official visit that is offered to you. By spending time on campus and with the team, you will begin to understand the culture of a team and where you are most comfortable. Choosing a school and team that has similar values to you, is welcoming, and has a cohesive culture are aspects to consider when deciding. Ultimately, your college decision is based on where you are the most comfortable and where you feel as though you can have the most success.

Once I commit to a school, what is the next step?

When you commit to a school, the first step is calling all of the other coaches you talked to and telling them where you will be attending school. This is important because coaches have put in a lot of time talking to you during the recruiting process, and it is respectful to let them know yourself instead of them seeing it on social media. After that,  start asking your new coach what the next steps are and get excited for college swimming!