Contributor, Rick Paine, is a friend and an expert on the college recruiting process. He is also the Director of Swimming at American College Connection.
With April 17th fast approaching many seniors are struggling to make one of the most important decisions of their life; where they will attend college. I received the email below from a young lady we have been working with for awhile.
I think it reiterates the right reason for choosing a school. I hope all of you have the chance to find the right fit.
Hi Rick,
On Friday night my parents and I had a Skype call with coach ____ and Coach ____ and I said YES. I am so excited to become a Viking and to go to _________.
Rick once I focused on my long term goals, that being what I wanted to do after graduation, everything became so CLEAR. It was very easy to get caught up in the excitement of the swimming element to this whole process. I know you had always said academics first then swim team but when you begin these relationships with these coaches month after month, email after email and then Skype calls, an amazing bond begins to form and the excitement of those possibilities take over. But if I think about it, it only makes sense; swimming is my passion right now so of course that’s what I connect with. In one of our calls way back you told me I needed to tell Coach ___ at _____ , NO to her offer because you could see that the education fit was not right, but NO I kept saying well if my first choices don’t come through I could make it work. I had formed such a great relationship with her and respected what she was doing with her team I forgot about ME and my academic and career goals.
Rick I have to tell you I have gotten 12 emails in the last 3 days from other schools. So thank you again for making contact with all the schools again. You and your team can obviously make things happen!!
Rick I have made my decision and I am so happy with it!! I feel I have been given the greatest gift of opportunity and I can’t wait to get out there and SWIM for ______.
Thank you for everything.
A.M.
American College Connection is a swimswam partner.
If you want to end up with a viable, lucrative career, my advice would be to spend more time studying than swimming in college.
As was pointed out to us many times, there is a reason they are called student athletes, not athlete students. And never discount your gut feel. It is usually right in the end.