NCSA RECRUITING TIPS OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE - 2008

	June 2008
	May 2008
	April 2008
	March 2008
	February 2008
	January 2008

JUNE 2008 - SAMPLE LETTER: NEGOTIATING A BIGGER PACKAGE

Dear Ms. Burns:

I have recently examined the Student Aid Report for XYZ College, and there are some items I wish to address. First of all, I would like to reject the PLUS loan, as it does not offer a very favorable rate. Please also reduce the $2,500 unsubsidized Stafford Loan to $1,500.

I also noticed that the package you have outlined here does not take into consideration some of the necessary expenses of college, including books, fees, and travel costs.

I am very impressed with the academic reputation of XYZ College, but I have also been considering PDQ University, which has presented me with a package that includes some of the expenses mentioned above. I would like to discuss my package further with you, and explore what other financial aid opportunities might be available to me at XYZ College.

Please contact me at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration!

MAY 2008

If you are very interested in going to a specific college camp but have not received information, do not worry! You can always log onto that college's or university's soccer website and submit a camp form via the website.

APRIL 2008

Less than 1% of high school student-athletes receive a fully funded offer from a Division I college.  Keep in mind that there many scholarship opportunities at the DII, DIII and NAIA levels too.

MARCH 2008

Make sure you film games against your best competition. Coaches would rather see you play in a hard fought game than dominate weak competition. Try to focus on club games, ODP events, or high school playoff games.

FEBRUARY 2008

If you are offered the opportunity to go to a high profile tournament with another team and are able to make the commitment for that weekend – go for it!  It is best to get as much exposure to coaches as possible.

JANUARY 2008

A commonly asked question from college coaches is “What other colleges are recruiting you?”  Do not be shy in naming those other colleges.  It is important to tell coaches who else is recruiting you, especially if the colleges are nearby, or better yet, in the same conference.  Coaches do not want to lose you to their competition and will work even harder to secure you as a recruit.

NCSA RECRUITING TIPS OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE - 2007

	December
	November
	October
	September
	August
	July
	June
	May

DECEMBER

Visit as many colleges as possible!  Comparing several institutions as opposed to just a few will give you a better idea of what you are looking for in a college and more confidence when making your final decision.

NOVEMBER

Visit as many colleges as possible!  Comparing several institutions as opposed to just a few will give you a better idea of what you are looking for in a college and more confidence when making your final decision.

OCTOBER

There are several helpful financial aid Web sites all student-athletes should review when going through the recruiting process and applying for college. One vital website is The Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.org.  The first date you may submit the FAFSA is January 1st of your senior year.  Keep in mind that university financial assistance may be limited and is given on a first come, first serve basis.

Other helpful websites regarding financial aid:

http://www.finaid.org/
http://studentaid.ed.gov
http://www.meritmoney.com/

SEPTEMBER

When possible, take honors and AP courses with the mindset that you will earn either an A or a B.  If you are concerned about maintaining a B average, you may want to consider taking a less challenging course level.

AUGUST

Create a system to file and save your mail.  You can also use email folders to help keep your emails organized.

JULY

Have a friend, family member, or trusted recruiting professional proofread your emails before you correspond with college coaches.  They might catch spelling errors or mistakes you may have overlooked.

JUNE

Respond to all questionnaires from colleges and universities. You can never have too many colleges recruiting you. The more offers you receive, the more leverage you have during the recruiting process.

MAY

When creating a video, make sure you tape games against your best competition.  Coaches would rather see you play in a hard fought game than dominate weak competition.  Try to focus on Club games and any ODP games.

BELOW IS A SAMPLE VIRTUAL TRYOUT FROM NCSA:
http://www.ncsasports.org/vt/examples/w_soccer_fwd.htm

ABOUT NCSA
NCSA, the Official Scouting Organization and Provider of Recruiting Education for Cal South, is the premier source for matching high school scholar – athletes with colleges and universities across the country.  NCSA is the "Eyes & Ears" of more than 35,000 college coaches, who rely on NCSA's experienced scouting team and instant response capabilities to provide them with quality prospective recruits.  NCSA prides itself in educating high school student-athletes and their families about the college recruiting process.   Please visit www.ncsasports.org for more information about NCSA.