the college recruiting process: junior year

Your junior year is the most critical time in the college recruiting process. The period of preparation is over; this is the time for action and decision-making. Most college athletes in team sports receive their scholarship offers during their junior year, so you must be proactive, organized, and strategic. This isn't just about getting noticed; it's about making a final, informed decision about your future.

Here is your playbook for junior year, designed to help you navigate this intense but rewarding period.

The Mindset: What to Think About

Junior year is when your approach to recruiting should shift from broad exploration to focused action. Your decisions now will directly impact your opportunities.

1. Finalize Your Target List: It's time to get serious. Your list of "dream schools" should now be a well-researched list of schools that are a realistic fit for you, both academically and athletically. A good target list should include a few dream schools, several schools that are a great match for your skill level, and a few "safety" schools. Focus your time and energy on the schools that are truly a good fit for you. During your junior year you’re probably narrowing your list from top 50 down to your top 10-15 schools.

2. Communication is Everything: The rules allow for more frequent contact between you and coaches in your junior year. You should be prepared to be in constant communication with college recruiters. This means being ready to answer phone calls, respond to emails, and ask the right questions. The conversations you have now will be more in-depth and will often determine whether you receive an offer or not.

The Action Plan: What to Do

With your mindset in place, here are the concrete, actionable steps you need to take this year.

1. Be Aggressive with Your Outreach: You can't just wait for coaches to find you. Take control of the narrative. Send personalized emails to coaches at schools on your list. Make sure each email is specific to their program. Attach your updated highlight reel and your academic information. Follow up every few weeks to show you are serious and consistent. This proactive approach will get you noticed and separate you from the pack. RecruitReach can help draft these emails quickly for you so all you have to do is move them over to your email.

2. Take Your Visits: The junior year is when you can begin to take official visits and unofficial visits. An official visit is a campus visit that a school pays for, and you can take them starting in your junior year. An unofficial visit is any visit to a campus that you pay for. Use these visits to get a real feel for the school's campus, team culture, and coaching style. Ask current players about their experience and be sure to talk to professors and academic advisors. These visits are a crucial opportunity to see if the school is a place you can call home.

3. Get Your Test Scores and Transcripts Ready: If you haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet, this is the year to do it. Take both tests to see where you perform best. Ensure your scores and your updated transcripts are sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center. A strong academic profile can be the tie-breaker between you and another recruit.

4. Create Your Final Highlight Reel: By junior year, you'll have some incredible footage. Your highlight reel should be a polished, professional tool that showcases your very best plays and skills. Work with your parents or a professional to create a video that is no more than 3-5 minutes, with your best plays in the first 30 seconds. Put a clear intro slide with all of your information, including your GPA and test scores. Read more about making a highlight reel here.

5. Maintain Your Grades: The coursework during your junior and senior year is undoubtedly tougher than when you were an underclassment. If you performed well in your freshman and sophomore year then you’ve done well to anchor your GPA.

6. Take Control with the Right Tools: A tool like RecruitReach can be invaluable in your junior year. It helps you stay organized by tracking every school you've contacted, the notes from your conversations with coaches, and your next steps. The platform’s features can help you write personalized emails, and its AI can even help you practice for calls with coaches.

What Not to Do in Your Junior Year

• Don't Ignore D2 or D3 Schools: Many athletes get too focused on D1 schools and miss out on great opportunities at the D2 or D3 level. These schools often have strong programs, a great balance of athletics and academics, and can be a fantastic fit. If you’re not getting full ride offers to D1 schools, remember that D2 schools can offer athletic scholarships as well.

• Don't Wait for Coaches to Call You: The most successful recruits are proactive. They send emails, make calls, and attend events to get noticed. Waiting to be found is the easiest way to get overlooked.

• Don't Lie or Exaggerate: Be honest about your stats, abilities, and academic standing. Coaches will find out the truth, and it can cost you an offer. Coaches beg you - include stats in your emails of what you’ve already accomplished. It’s not going to impress them to hear your goals and desires - lead with results.

Your junior year is the most demanding, but also the most rewarding, time in the recruiting process. The hard work you put in now will pay off with phone calls, visits, and, ultimately, offers that will shape your future. Stay focused, stay organized, and trust that you are doing everything you can to find the perfect college fit.