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KEY Swimming Presents . . .
Preparing for College
Tools and Tips to Help You, and Your Parents, Get Ready for that
Next Chapter in Your Life
There’s nothing more satisfying than to be part of a team,
and swimming is no exception. The YMCA of the USA, its affiliates
and, most importantly, its coaches, take great pride in recognizing
that they’re just not developing swimmers, they’re
developing human beings . . .
Believe it or not, everyone’s swimming career will eventually
come to an end. For some, it might be before high school ends. For
others, graduating from high school might mean the end of a
swimming “career.” Still others will venture out into
the world and swim for a college . . . but only a chosen few will
EVER be Michael Phelps . . .
Ever hear the saying, “Show a man to fish and you feed him
for a day…teach a man to fish and you feed him for a
lifetime.”
The core values of the YMCA (caring, honesty, respect,
responsibility) are meant for the individual child to carry
throughout their life. It is the responsibility of every
YMCA employee, coach, and official to teach these core values to
each and every child they come into contact with on a YMCA pool
deck. Indeed, these individuals should lead by example; constantly
demonstrating the integrity necessary to uphold these
lifelong values and to solidify these values in the children
they teach so that they WILL become a lifelong lesson for
each and every child.
Any organization can teach a child to swim, but what does that
child do when the competitive swimming is over? What will they have
learned as a result of the time they spent in a YMCA program?
In the spirit of the core values of the YMCA, as well as a desire
to help our High School Juniors and Seniors prepare for their
college swimming careers, KEY Swimming is proud to have developed
this page to help them, as well as their parents, answer as many
questions as we can on the process of what it takes to become a
collegiate swimmer. We have included many “Tips” and
suggestions you might find helpful, and we encourage you to browse
the selected web sites for information and help.
Also, keep in mind that this will be a “living” web
site; information will be updated, changed, or simply added to, as
is necessary to maintain a comprehensive site. Of course mistakes
can, and probably will, happen so, to that end, if you find
inconsistencies or something you feel needs to be corrected, please
let us know . . .
The parents adding to this site have been through it so there is,
and will continue to be, a wealth of knowledge from those of us who
have been there.
So, start browsing, enjoy yourself and, above all, ASK QUESTIONS .
. .
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Colleges may already be looking at you, but do NOT assume they are
only looking at times. Stroke technique, grades, practice schedule,
commitment, body style, etc., all might play an important role in a
college coaches interest in you. Indeed, it was only AFTER my
daughter signed with her college that we learned they had been
watching her since her freshman year, were impressed with her times
and her GPA, but were also impressed with her stroke techniques and
overall body style. It was what they were looking for . . .
Head Coach Eric Wentzel and the rest of
the KEY Coaching Staff want to help make your college swimming
dreams come true, and they are ready, willing, and able to help all
our high school swimmers during the college decision making
process, including recruiting and scholarship opportunities . .
.
But understand that much of this is your responsibility,
and no matter how much the coaches want to help you, ultimately,
they can’t do it for you. Hopefully, the information provided
here will be of tremendous benefit to you . . .
Many of the below articles will help you get started, and they
provide broad-based information on many college recruiting
topics.
In addition to the articles and web sites added by the parents of
KEY Swimming, we would also like to thank the following
organizations for their data gathering efforts: USA Swimming, NCAA, Missouri Valley Swimming, Cincinnati Marlins, and the Dayton Raiders
I. Where to Start:
In addition to the below sites, you should also be able to receive
some help from your school guidance counselor who should have,
among other publications, the latest copy of the NCAA rules and
regulations regarding the College-Bound Student Athlete . .
.
College Swimming 101
USA Swimming
It’s that time of year again – the time when high
school students begin to think about their collegiate
futures. But where do you start? How do you become a
student-athlete in the collegiate world of swimming? Searching
for a university with a specific major, a certain geographic
region, a certain athletic ability, as well as a team and a coach
that will match your personality and skill can be daunting . .
.
College Recruiting: Quick Facts About the Recruiting
Process
These are some terms and concepts that will help you get started on
the recruiting process. For complete rules and information, go to
www.ncaa.org and navigate to "Academics
& Athletics."
College Recruiting: Frequently Asked Questions on
Initial Eligibility
What requirements do you need to be able to practice, play and get
a scholarship at a Division I or Division II school?
College Board: College Planning Made
Easy
This is perhaps one of the most important web sites you will ever
visit for college recruiting. There is a WEALTH of information at
this site, and we encourage both you and your parents to spend time
browsing this site and the information it provides . . .
The NCAA Eligibility Center (Formerly
the NCAA Clearinghouse)
Equally as important, if you’re planning on swimming in
college, you MUST go here and learn about this site. The NCAA will
require you to register through their Eligibility Center
(Clearinghouse) and college coaches will use this site for
information on you.
High School Swimmers, you MUST register
with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse) by the end of
your Junior year, or you
will NOT be eligible for Division I or Division II recruitment . .
.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid)
Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education,
ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally
funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education
beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of
postsecondary education to all Americans—and its value to our
society.
Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in
supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college
to eligible students and families. We partner with postsecondary
schools, financial institutions and other participants in the Title
IV student financial assistance programs to deliver services that
help students and families who are paying for college.
Today, Federal Student Aid performs a range of critical functions
that include, among others:
Processing 14 million student financial aid applications each
year;
Disbursing more than $80 billion annually in financial aid to
students through schools;
Enforcing financial aid rules and regulations;
Partnering with schools, financial institutions and guaranty
agencies to prevent fraud, waste and abuse;
Educating students and families on the process of obtaining aid and
other college funding;
Servicing millions of student loan accounts;
Securing repayment from borrowers who have defaulted on their
loans; and
Operating information technology systems and tools that help manage
our $400 billion loan portfolio.
This is a complex, multifaceted mission that calls on a range of
staff skills and demands coordination by all levels of management.
Consequently, Federal Student Aid—the government’s
first Performance-Based Organization (PBO)—emphasizes
tangible results and efficient performance, as well as the
continuous improvement of the processes and systems that support
our mission.
II. College Questionnaires
For college questionnaires you receive via your coach(es):
If you are absolutely “dead set” AGAINST going to that
particular college, don’t fill out the questionnaire. However
if you’re interested, or even curious, fill it out and send
it back. This is an easy way to start getting your name out to
colleges. Our recommendation would be to spend as much time as
necessary filling out the first one you do and make it as complete
and accurate as possible. Before you send it back, copy it so you
can use it as a template for the next one.
Research college questionnaires on your own:
There is NOTHING stopping you from doing your own research, going
out to college web sites, and filling out on-line prospective
student athlete questionnaires. Many colleges have this, and they
are generally easy to get to through the athletic department links
at the various college sites.
. . . and which college sites should you look at? From experience,
we suggest looking at the times which were posted at the most
recent league championship meet for a variety of colleges. Find
those schools where you feel your times are competitive, and go to
some of those sites. You don’t necessarily need to limit
yourself to these colleges and/or leagues, but they provide a good
place to start . . .
We also suggest . . .
College Recruiting: Tips for Choosing the Right
College and Finding the Right Fit for You
The process of selecting a college is both challenging and
consequential. When forced to consider swimming as well, the task
becomes even more daunting. While attempting to find the ideal fit
academically and athletically, it is necessary to set certain
criteria for potential colleges and swimming programs . . .
College Recruiting: Narrowing the List, Going From
Many Potential Colleges to Just a Few
Narrowing a field of hundreds of colleges and universities into a
list of five to eight schools can be a tough process for swimmers.
Student-athletes must consider each potential school from both
academic and athletic perspectives. There are few colleges that
perfectly meet all the necessary personal criteria of a
college-bound swimmer . . .
III. Marketing Yourself and Planning the Visits:
OK, it’s your senior year, and you’re ready to start
visiting colleges. As you have probably already discovered, NCAA
rules state that you can make as many visits to as many colleges as
you want at your own expense. While there, you can take the
initiative to speak to the coaching staff of the swim team, but you
have to initiate all the contacts. This could be a good place to
get your coaches involved . . .
The rules regarding official visits differ from division to
division. For Division I, II, and III official visits, the
university can pay for your transportation and 48-hour stay. You
are allowed to take official visits to five (5) different Division
I and II universities or schools. There is no limit to the number
of official visits you may take to a Division III school.
College Recruiting: Marketing Yourself (How
to Standout From the Competition)
College-bound student-athletes often struggle to effectively market
themselves academically and athletically. Even supremely talented
and attractive student-athletes encounter difficulties in promoting
their abilities. Two student-athletes of the same academic and
athletic caliber might be separated by a strong initiative for
successful self-marketing. This article focuses on how to stand out
from the other swimmers.
College Recruiting: The Big Trip (Tips for Taking
Official Visits to Colleges)
Recruiting trips to universities are one of the best ways for you
to find out where you will best fit in, and where you want to
study. The rules regarding official visits differ from division to
division. For Division I, II, and III official visits, the
university can pay for your transportation and 48-hour stay. You
are allowed to take official visits to five (5) different Division
I and II universities or schools. There is no limit to the number
of official visits you may take to a Division III school.
Planning Your College Visit
By Eric Wentzel, Head Coach, South YMCA (KEY) Swimming, Kettering,
OH
College visits are common for seniors deciding on where to attend
school and swim in college. Below are just a few sample questions
that I feel are appropriate to ask. You will gain insight into
the college program you are considering swimming for, making your
decision easier. Chances are you will spend plenty of time
with the current athletes and the coaching staff around the campus
and possibly off campus. I believe being yourself is crucial
and I believe that you will know in your heart afterwards or during
the visit if you might be a good candidate for that school.
IV. Additional Recruiting / Recruiters
College Prospects of America
College Prospects of America is the most respected sports marketing
service for high school student-athletes throughout the world. We
help talented young people from the US and many other countries
with their sports recruiting needs. We help athletes get
recruited.
First Contact Recruiting
First Contact Recruiting is a program that matches high school
swimmers and divers with U.S. college and university programs so
they can be recruited. These schools are located across the
country and include Div I, II, & III swim programs. This
service is free for athletes.
Be Recruited
Join the largest and most successful online network connecting high
school athletes and college coaches. Register for free today . .
.
College Student Athletes
Division III Only – A FREE tool for students looking to
combine athletics with academics at a Division III (D3)
College.
Swim Recruit
Add your name to a college recruiting database – FREE
service
V. Additional Resources
National Letter of
Intent
NCAA Information on the National Letter of Intent
College Swimming News
NCAA College Swimming
VI. Articles of Interest:
Wanted: Female Players
(6/16/2007)
By Russell Adams, Wall Street Journal
Thirty-five years after Title IX, colleges struggle to fill
women’s teams . . .
Splash Online Extra: The College
Recruiting Process (4/25/2007)
By Arlene Douglas, Special Columnist
Being recruited to swim for an NCAA Division I university is a
tremendous achievement. The recruiting process can be
daunting. However, knowing the steps to the process and
getting an early start can put you ahead of the game . . .
College Recruiting - NCAA Academic Progress Rates:
Swimmers Succeed (6/6/2005)
NCAA
From Indy in May has come not only the 500 but also the
NCAA’s revised Academic Progress Rates for 6000 teams in 41
Division I sports for the 2003-4 academic year . . .
The Recruiting Game
(3/24/2005)
USA Swimming
At 6-foot-4 and with a 68-inch wingspan, Hannah Meyer had her pick
of colleges despite her gangly physique. Having sprouted from her
relatively modest 5-foot-10 frame as a freshman to her current
stature her senior year, Meyer received letters and calls from some
of the top programs in the country . . .
College Recruiting - A Coaches’
Perspective: An interview with the Head Coach of American
University
USA Swimming
Excerpts from a USA Swimming interview with Mark Davin, the Head
Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach at American
University in Washington, DC. Davin was recently named Colonial
Athletic Association "Men’s Coach of the Year," his second
consecutive honor.
College Recruiting - What Coaches Want:
Traits Most Coaches Look For in a Swimmer
USA Swimming
To improve chances as a college applicant, it is important to
consider the recruiting process from a coach’s perspective.
In doing so, potential recruits are able to understand a
coach’s desires and make themselves more attractive
candidates. While not all coaches seek the same swimmers, talents,
and characteristics, they do share common needs. The following is a
list of traits (in no particular order) that NCAA swimming coaches
might find desirable. Assess yourself in each of these categories
and attempt to improve in weaker areas to enhance your appeal and
attractiveness.
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