College questions
Parent and Swimmer look at
these questions together. You may have
already asked some of these questions of the coach. Talk about other questions that are not here
that you want the answers to. When you
go on a visit find out as much as you can.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and write down the answer. You will be coming into contact with
different people, some of these questions can be asked of more than one of
them. These are some questions you can
ask different people when looking at a school.
Some of these will only be answered if you go visit the school. Keep track of what different schools have to
say. Remember you will be spending the
next four or five years at this institution, it needs to be a place that you
feel comfortable.
Things to think about before you begin:
1.
What part of the
country do you want to go to school in?
2.
What kind of
climate?
3.
What size of
school? What size of city?
4.
What division do
you want to or can you compete at? Be
realistic!!
Visits to Campus
You can go on 5 official
visits. That means they pay to bring you
on campus. This is the best way to find
out about the program and team.
Some very important rules you need to know:
1. A college coach may contact you starting July
1 of the year between your Junior and Senior year.
2. They may call only once a week. If your parents talk to them for more than
just finding out you aren’t there it counts as a call. They may call within the same day however and
talk to you and that is ok.
3. On visits they can’t give you anything (caps,
shirts).
4. On visits you can’t workout with the
team.
University information:
1.
Does this
university have my major?
2.
How many students
are at this university?
3.
Is it in a part
of the country that I want to spend 4 to 5 years in?
1.
What times do I
need to have to be considered for a scholarship? Are there other sources of financial aid I
should be looking into?
2.
With a partial
scholarship what are my out of pocket expenses?
3.
If I don’t get a
scholarship for my freshman year what are the chances that I might be awarded
one for my sophomore year? How do I
improve my chances?
4.
What is the
process for annual scholarship renewal (they cannot “guarantee” a 4 or 5 year
scholarship)? What is needed to get 5th
year aid? How can a scholarship be taken
away?
5.
Can the amount of
my scholarship be increased or decreased through my years at this school?
6.
What happens if I
am offered a non-athletic scholarship as well?
7.
What kinds of
grants, etc. are available and how do you get the information on them?
1.
How many are on
the team? How many travel?
2.
Is the team
Co-ed? If so, do men and women train
together? If not, what is the
relationship between the two? Do they
travel together? Are the conference
meets together? How many coaches are
there? What coach will I be working
mostly with?
3.
What is the
training like during all phases of the season?
Yardage? Types
of training?
4. What is the practice schedule for a
typical week, including water and dryland (strength training) workouts?
How
many hours a week?
Example
workout?
5.
How long is the season?
6.
What are the
attendance requirements? Are they
different for scholarship and non-scholarship swimmers?
7.
What events do
you see me swimming in dual meets?
8.
Will I be
traveling with the team? What is the
travel schedule, how may days of school will be missed?
9.
How does the team
travel to away meets? Who drives?
10.
Do my times fit
into to the team? Are you recruiting
others with similar times?
11.
Is there a
Christmas training trip? Am I required
to go? How is paid for? How much?
Do you train over Thanksgiving?
12.
Is there a
strength training coach that works specifically with the swim team?
13.
Is there a
trainer assigned to the swim team like the basketball team or is there a
different one at every meet?
14.
Do you have a
spring training program? How much time
do I have off after my last meet and spring training? What are summer training expectations? How many stay on campus to take classes and
train over the summer months?
15.
Is there any
possibility that the swim team will be dropped from the athletic department?
(It has happened!) Of what value is the
swim program to the athletic department?
1.
Do you practice
or compete during final exams?
2.
Are there tutors
available? To both scholarship and
non-scholarship athletes?
3.
Is there an
Athletic Academic Counseling department?
What is my access to it?
4.
What is the
team’s GPA and graduation rate? What is
the graduation rate for the whole school and for the whole athletic department?
5.
Is there a study
hall available or is it required?
Required hours?
6.
Can I contact any
of the current members of the team? (specifically those that swim my events)
1.
Are there
professors that a student-athlete should avoid?
2.
How can I take
advantage of your counseling?
3.
Can I come to you
with non-academic problems?
4.
How many credits
do you recommend that I take?
1.
What are the
program requirements?
2.
What type of
course work will I be doing?
3.
Are there other
student-athletes in this program?
4.
What is the
policy for taking tests when I am gone on team travel?
5.
How can I get
notes of missed classes?
6.
Does this
university have a graduate program to fit my interest?
7.
Do I have to
graduate in 4 years?
8.
Can I do this
course of study and swim? When are most
of the classes?
9.
When do I have to
declare a major?
1.
Is the coach
consistent and fair? (Ask upper classman for this)
2.
Does the coach
play favorites?
3.
Does the coaching
staff work well together?
4.
Is there an
alcohol problem on this team?
5.
What parts of
town should I stay away from?
6.
Do you like it on
the team? Do the swimmers get along?
Questions to ask yourself:
1.
If the coach
left, would I stay?
2.
Would you choose
this school if you were not a swimmer?
3.
Are you choosing
the appropriate level for yourself as far as athletics and academics are
concerned?
4.
Do you think the
staff and program fits your needs?
5.
Do you socially
fit in with this group of swimmers? Look
particularly at the Freshmen and Sophomores.
6.
Are you looking
for a metropolitan area or smaller area for your college?
7.
If the program is
dropped what would I do?
8.
How do you tell a
coach that you aren’t interested? Let
the coach know as soon as you have made a decision.