Much like the traditional college admissions process, the athletic recruiting process is another area of college interaction that can benefit from the understanding and proper use of available web data.
There are numerous online services available for student athletes seeking college recruitment. Typically, the recruitment process involves videos, outreach, and campus visits. That said, there is significant potential for increasing the chances of aspiring student athletes to secure a spot at their preferred school. By leveraging data from university websites, sports league statistics, and other sources, diligent individuals can gain a competitive advantage. Below, we provide an overview of how data can benefit athletic applicants.
1) By utilizing our library of student surveys, we can effectively pair student athletes with schools that offer an experience most closely aligned with the preferences of the student athlete. It is widely understood that focusing on schools where a student athlete would thrive beyond sports is crucial during the recruitment process. Although our data facilitates this process, there are other online services and data repositories that can also assist in determining 'fit' for those willing to do the work themselves.
2) Being a good student can greatly benefit an athlete in the recruiting process. At many institutions, the admissions department plays a crucial role by providing a pre-read evaluation which tells the coach if they think the athlete is a decent academic candidate for the school Understanding how a candidate's academic performance, standardized test results, and, in some cases, intended major compare to those of the average accepted student can be significant. If athletes are viewed as risky applicants by admissions, coaches may encounter challenges in securing their admission. By doing the work and identifying suitable target schools, along with recognizing the obstacles or advantages an athlete may encounter during the pre-read process, families can save themselves time by avoiding bad situations and focusing on schools where a positive pre-read is likely. While we help families with this, it is possible to navigate this process alone thorough diligent research online.
3) When it comes to grades and scores, it's important to understand your coach and his vision. Examining rosters and team records can provide insight into a coach's experience and recent achievements, all of which play a role in their capacity to guide student-athletes through the admissions process. Utilizing web scraping and conducting a comprehensive online search can also uncover a coach's track record and standing among previous recruits, details that can help a recruit and their family's communicate with the coach.
4) Examining current and past team rosters can offer insights into a student athlete's prospects at a particular school. In a system where coaches may not always be forthcoming about recruitment odds and guidance counselors may lack in-depth knowledge of the process, students and their families can feel isolated. Analyzing historical rosters can reveal important patterns in recruiting practices, providing aspiring student athletes with guidance on where to direct their efforts. Questions such as the number of players typically recruited in the candidate's position each year, the typical physical attributes of players in that position, preferred geographical locations, the coach's preference for international players, and the ratio of public to private school athletes can all be answered through this analysis. By understanding these trends, athletes and their families can gain a clearer picture of their chances of playing for specific schools.
5) Finally, information on scholarships and financial aid can assist student athletes and their parents in assessing the availability, probability, and typical amount of aid. A comparison between the aid received by a student athlete and the average student can often reveal the recruit's standing on a coach's list. Similar to historical team rosters and admission statistics, universities typically have detailed information on scholarships and financial aid on their websites.
There is a great deal of information that can be culled from the internet that can increase the odds of a successful recruiting experience. For those looking to avoid the time and energy associated with the search, Admissions Laboratory can help with both the traditional process as well as the use of data to help target schools and improve your chances or being recruited.
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