Your Athletic Talent Can Open Academic Doors, Here's How

We break down the college athletic recruiting process for student-athletes aiming to compete at East Coast schools across all NCAA divisions. From understanding different division requirements to mastering coach communications, this guide walks through every critical step of positioning yourself as both an athlete and student.

• NCAA has three primary divisions with different competitive intensities and scholarship opportunities
• Division 1 (Duke, Boston College, UPenn) offers the most competitive programs, with early recruiting and athletic scholarships (except Ivy League)
• Division 2 (Bentley, Pace) balances academics and athletics with scholarship possibilities
• Division 3 (NESCAC schools like Amherst, Williams, Tufts) offers no athletic scholarships but very competitive programs
• Start building your athletic resume and highlight reel during freshman/sophomore years
• Research schools for academic/athletic fit and roster opportunities
• Proactively communicate with coaches through personalized emails with highlights
• Attend camps and showcases where target school coaches will be present
• Maintain strong academics - coaches recruit athletes but admissions accepts students
• Coaches look beyond talent for character, academic ability, communication skills, and program commitment
• Coach support can boost your application, especially with early recruitment

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hello and welcome back to the East Coast College
Admissions podcast.
I'm your host, cleopatra, andtoday's episode is especially
for our student-athletes outthere who are not just chasing
championships but also chasingcollege dreams.
If you are hoping to play yoursport at the college level and
apply to schools on the EastCoast, you are in the right

(00:32):
place.
From Division 1 powerhouses tocompetitive Division 3 programs,
east Coast schools offerincredible athletic and academic
opportunities, but therecruiting process is a game of
its own.
So today we are diving intoathletic recruiting, how it
works, what you need to do atevery stage and how to make

(00:53):
yourself stand out in the eyesof coaches and admissions
officers alike.
Let's start with the basics.
There are three primary NCAAdivisions Division 1, division 2

(01:18):
, and Division 3.
And many East Coast schoolscompete across all three.
Here is a quick overview ofwhat that means.
Division 1, the mostcompetitive and often the most
intensive.
Think ACC and Ivy Leagueschools like Duke, boston
College and UPenn.
Division 1, athletes are oftenrecruited early and many receive

(01:41):
athletic scholarships, thoughnot in the Ivy League, where
financial aid is academic andneed-based.
Division 2, competitive butwith more balance between
academics and athletics.
Schools like Bensley and PaceUniversity fall here and
scholarships are possible.
Division 3, no athleticscholarships, but very

(02:02):
competitive, especially inconferences like the NESCAC,
which includes schools likeAmherst Williams and Tartt.
Recruiting still happens andyour athletic talent can support
your application.
And don't forget the NAIA.
And junior colleges can begreat stepping stones too.
So what are the key steps inthe athletic recruiting process?

(02:22):
Whether you're a freshman juststarting to think about college,
are the key steps in theathletic recruiting process,
whether you're a freshman juststarting to think about college
or a junior deep in thetournament season.
Here is how to approach theprocess like a pro.
Number one you have to startearly.
Freshman and sophomore yearsare a time to build your
athletic resume and highlightreel.
Create a student-athleteprofile with stats, gpa test

(02:46):
scores if applicable, and videofootage.
Number two you have to do yourresearch.
Target schools that fit bothyour academic and athletic level
.
Check team rosters for thingslike are there graduating
seniors in your position?
Do you match the team style ofplay?
Number three communicate withcoaches Email early and often.

(03:09):
Include your highlights, video,key stats and why you are
interested in their program.
Be proactive.
Don't wait to be discovered.
Keep the emails personalized,because coaches can tell when
it's a copy-paste job.
Number four understand therecruiting rules.
The NCAA has strict calendarson when coaches can contact you,

(03:33):
especially Division I andDivision II.
Division III coaches have moreflexibility, but they still
appreciate professionalism andearly outreach.
Point number five attend campsand showcases.
Go where the coaches will be.

(03:54):
East Coast schools often hostsummer ID programs and attend
regional showcases.
If you are interested in aparticular school, try to attend
their own campus camp, becausethat shows real interest.
Point number six you have tokeep your grades up.
Even at Division I schools,academics matter.
You may be a star on the field,but if your GPA is shaky, that

(04:14):
offer could slip away.
And especially at schools likethose in the Ivy League or the
NESCAC, academic strength isessential.
So here is a quick tip for you.
Coaches recruit athletes, butthe admissions reps accept
students.
So make sure you are just asstrong in the classroom as you

(04:36):
are in your sport.
So what do coaches look forbesides talent?
Believe it or not?
Talent isn't everything.
Here's what coaches are alsowatching out for.
They watch out for character.
Are you coachable?
Do you bring good energy?
They also watch out foracademic fit.
Can you handle the rigor of thecollege's coursework?

(04:59):
They also look out for yourcommunication skills.
Are you mature, responsive andrespectful in conversations and
emails?
They also look out for the bigone commitment.
Coaches want players who willstick with the team and program,
not transfer out after a year.
So where does the admissionsconnection come in?

(05:21):
For many schools, especiallythe Division III or academically
rigorous D1 programs, theadmissions office and athletics
department they work together.
So what does this mean?
A coach's support can boostyour application, but it's not a
guarantee.
Coaches often submit a list ofrecruited athletes they would

(05:43):
like to see admitted.
This means that being an earlyrecruit helps, because the
earlier they advocate for you,the more likely you want to
receive that support before theadmissions decisions are
finalized.
So what are my final thoughtsand takeaways?
I think that you need to startearly and stay organized.

(06:03):
Keep a spreadsheet of youroutreach and deadlines.
You have to communicateconfidently.
Don't wait for a coach to findyou.
Introduce yourself and tellyour story.
Also, don't forget the academicfit At East Coast Schools.
Being a great student-athletemeans excelling in both arenas
and if you are feelingoverwhelmed, don't worry.

(06:25):
You don't have to navigate thisalone, whether you are aiming
for the Ivy League or a standoutDivision III program.
East Coast Admissions is hereto support student-athletes
through every step of theprocess.
Thanks for tuning in to theEast Coast College Admissions

(06:46):
Podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe,leave a review and share this
episode with a student athletein your life who is ready to
take their game and theircollege list to the next level.
Until next time, I'm Cleopatra,cheering you on from the
sidelines in the admissionsprocess.