How Prospective Student-Athletes Can Build Their Target List of Colleges

Creating a target list of colleges is one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects of the college sports recruiting process. Many prospects and their families don’t dedicate enough time to this task, but it can significantly impact their recruitment journey. At PrepSearch, we emphasize that an individualized college list is the foundation of our approach, setting us apart from other advisors and recruiting services. The PrepSearch College list builder is the most comprehensive resource available containing over 3000 Colleges and Universities as well as special filters for Student-Athletes.

Prospective Student-Athletes can start their College List by doing the following.

 

1. Start with a Comprehensive Needs Analysis
All PrepSearch clients begin by completing a recruiting needs analysis. This tool gathers essential information about the athlete’s academic and athletic profile, which we then input into the PrepSearch College List builder. This initial assessment helps create a targeted approach to college selection.

2. Create Three Mini Lists
We recommend organizing your overall college list into three smaller categories:

• Dream Colleges: These are schools where admission may be a stretch academically and athletically. Competing at these institutions would be highly challenging.
• Target Colleges: These are schools where you have a strong chance of admission and may be actively recruited. They align well with your academic and athletic profile.
• Safety Colleges: These institutions are ones where you are confident you will be admitted academically and have a solid chance of receiving an offer or making the team, even as a walk-on.

Each mini list should ideally contain at least five colleges, resulting in an initial target list of 15. However, to refine this list effectively, it’s advisable to start with a broader pool of 50 or more colleges and universities. From there, prospects can engage in discussions with their families to narrow down their options.

Factors to Consider When Building Your List

While the initial list is critical, several other factors should be evaluated to create a well-rounded target list:

• Academic Goals: Reflect on your academic aspirations. What do you hope to study, and how do your potential colleges align with your educational objectives?
• Athletic Aspirations: Consider the level of competition you desire. Are you looking for a highly competitive program, or are you seeking a more balanced experience?
• Campus Environment: Think about what kind of campus culture you thrive in. Do you prefer a large university or a smaller college? Urban or rural settings?

Before utilizing the PrepSearch College List builder to finalize your customized list, I encourage my clients to conduct thorough research on several aspects of the colleges and the sports programs they’re interested in. Important factors to investigate include:

• Team Roster: Analyze the current roster, paying attention to the number of upperclassmen and graduate students. This can indicate potential opportunities for incoming recruits.
• Coaching Staff: Research the head coach’s tenure and track record. A stable coaching staff can be beneficial for your development as an athlete.
• Program Competitiveness: Examine how competitive the program has been in recent years. This can give you insights into the program’s reputation and success.

Final Thought

Building a target list of colleges should be your starting point as a prospective student-athlete, regardless of your current recruitment status. By starting with a robust list of at least 15 colleges and conducting thorough research, you can align your athletic and academic goals with the right institutions. Engage in open discussions with your family throughout this process to ensure that your final list reflects both your aspirations and personal values. Please check out the rest of my website to learn more about PrepSearch and how I’ve helped over 1700 students attend college using sports since 2007.

https://prepsearch.net/app/

EM