College visits are a crucial element of recruitment and might ultimately be the deciding factor when choosing a school. Some athletes are almost ready to commit by the time they visit a school, while others are still trying to narrow down choices or just grab the attention of a coach.

A campus tour should be pre-scheduled by calling the school a few weeks in advance. A short meeting with a counselor, a class visit and stopping by a game or practice should also be included. The best time to conduct an unofficial visit is typically in the fall or spring.

Official Visit Guidelines

• Athlete Must provide school with transcripts and test scores
• Must be registered with NCAA Clearinghouse
• Can only visit for 48 hours
• Only allowed five official visits, but may visit additional schools or conduct second visits on an unofficial basis. 

Before you book a visit, officially or unofficially, make sure you have done some outside research. If the school doesn't have your area of study or doesn't have the academic support in place you will need as a student athlete, cross that school off your list. Also consider if the schools you are visiting will be financially viable based on a partial scholarship.

Must Do’s

• Have a pre-visit meeting with mom and dad to talk about their roles in the visit
• Attend a practice/game
• Talk to the players
• Meet with coaches
• Sit in on a class that fits into your area of study
• Set up a time with an academic counselor
• Check out the dorms and other campus facilities
• Ask questions along the way 
• Take notes
• Don’t commit; give yourself time to think over your choices and the pros and cons of each school before committing

Now that you know what to expect from a successful college visit, you will be ready to pick the right school when the time comes.