How Late Can You Commit To A College?
As a high school prospect who plans to play the sport they love in college, or the parent of such a prospect, I am sure you are wondering how late you can decide which college to commit to.
While the majority of athletes will have committed to a college before or on National Signing Day, that is not technically your last chance to commit to a school. This means that if you have not come to a decision that you are comfortable with, there is no requirement that you commit on National Signing Day. In fact, the deadline for all D-1 and D-2 sports isn’t until August 1st after senior year.
Committing to a college is a big step. You are choosing where you want to spend the next four years of your life. Because of this, it is in the best interest of recruits and their families to not rush into a decision. However, there are deadlines and rules that must be followed during the recruiting process. To help you understand the relevant deadlines and timeline of recruiting, we have included a more detailed explanation below.
Committing To A College Late In The Process
For various reasons, prospects choose to commit to colleges very late on in the process. While this can make the recruiting process harder, it also allows prospects to take their time and make the decision that is best for them and their family.
Last Day To Commit: Technically, athletes have until August 1st of the year before they plan on joining the program to commit. Choosing to commit late does not directly affect a coach’s ability to offer you a scholarship or a spot in their program. The exception to this rule is any D-3 sports program. Because you are not committing to an athletic scholarship, there is no specific deadline to commit.
Remember To Apply: While it may seem obvious, committing to a college does not automatically mean that you are enrolled. When a coach offers you a scholarship, it normally guarantees admission to the college as long as your academics are acceptable. However, it is important to remember that you still need to fill out the regular application to the college to gain admission.
Don’t Wait Too Long: Even though you can wait until very late on in the recruiting process, it is normally in recruits best interests to commit as soon as they have come to a decision. Coaches recruit many prospects in each position because it is never a certainty who will choose to commit to their program. The earlier you commit, the less likely it is that another prospect will commit and take your spot.
Communication Is Important: One way to decrease the chances of your spot being taken by another recruit is to be open and honest with the coaches whose programs you are considering. If you cut off communication with a coach and don’t respond to their scholarship offer, they will assume you are not very interested in their program. However, if you explain the factors in your decision and let them know that you are still very much considering their school, the coach will give you more time to make your decision.
Even so, the most important advice to remember is that it is in your best interest to wait to make the decision until you feel comfortable with it. By doing this, you can ensure that you have the best chance of choosing the perfect place to spend your next four years.
Starting The Recruiting Process Late
Some high school athletes don’t choose to start the recruiting process until later into their high school career. While this is perfectly allowed, and college coaches will not hold it against you when considering your fit with their program, it carries along significant challenges. We’ve outlined some of them below.
When Is Too Late To Start: Your senior year is generally regarded as the latest possible time to start the recruiting process. Any later, and you won’t have time to communicate back and forth with coaches and be evaluated. Furthermore, the deadlines for applying to colleges are pretty early into senior year, and you can’t receive a scholarship If you don’t gain admission to the college you commit to.
Check With Your Specific Sport: Some sports require prospects to start the recruiting process earlier. Typically, these are team sports. Volleyball, lacrosse, and softball have been especially known to start their recruiting processes early. On the other hand, for some individual sports, many recruits don’t receive scholarship offers until midway through their senior seasons. These include swimming and track and field.
Roster Spots Will Be Limited: Another pitfall of starting the recruiting process late is that it limits your options. Coaches strive to fill up their recruiting classes as early as possible to get rid of uncertainty and make their lives easier. By the middle of your senior year a lot of the roster spot at programs around the country will already have been filled.
Consider The Importance Of Academics: With the shortened timeline, you will have less leeway for improving your academics. In order to successfully navigate the recruiting process as a senior, your academics need to be in order. This includes both your test scores and your GPA. These will be essential for gaining admission to the colleges you are interested in.
No matter what point of your high school career you are at, it is never a bad thing to pursue your dream of playing the sport you love in college. By following the tips above, you can give yourself the best chance of finding the program that is right for you.
Different Options If The Recruiting Process Doesn’t Work Out For You
The reality is that not all prospects will receive an offer that appeals to them. This is doubly true for prospects who begin the recruiting process later on in their high school careers. Fortunately, there are a couple of options if this happens.
Walk-On: Walking-on to a college program is a time proven path to collegiate athletic success. Many current professional athletes were former walk-ons. You can attempt to walk-on at any program that you gain regular academic admission to. Once one campus, you will have to attend a series of tryouts to show the coach that you deserve a place on their team. Lastly, even though you don’t start off with a scholarship, it is common for walk-ons to earn one through their careers by impressing the coaching staff.
Preferred VS. Normal Walk-On: Some walk-ons arrive with the preferred designation. Preferred walk-ons receive a guarantee that they will make the team once they arrive, removing some of the risk associated with walking-on. However, they do not arrive with any guarantee of playing time or future financial aid.
Junior College: A second option to high school athletes is junior college. You can play on a junior college team for up to two years, before attempting to move on to a NCAA program for your remaining years of eligibility. Junior college is an opportunity for athletes to hone their skills while surrounded by college-level coaches and talent in a low-stakes environment. Many athletes also use it as an opportunity to boost their grades and prove their academic ability. Junior colleges also tend to be much cheaper than 4-year institutions.
While it can be disappointing to not receive offers from the programs you were interested in, remember that there are other paths to playing your sport of choice at the collegiate level.
Things To Keep In Mind
Use Your Support Network: Your parents, friends, coaches, and even teachers can all be valuable resources if you are struggling to make a decision. While the final decision is up to you, it is important to gather advice from those who care about you.
Do Your Research: Learning as much as you can about the programs and colleges you are considering is one of the best ways to make a well-informed decision quickly. It will help you compare schools, programs, and coaches to one another.
Your Decision Does Not Have To Be Final: If you choose to commit to a school and later decide it is not a good fit for you, the decision is not technically binding until you sign your National Letter of Intent. If you feel uncomfortable with your decision, it is okay to consider decommitting later.