What to Expect
STUDENT ATHLETE FOUR-YEAR ACTION PLAN
Freshman and Sophomore Year
- Plan a challenging academic program that will meet NCAA requirements.
- Maintain at least a 3.000 Grade Point Average (GPA) out of 4.000 in core courses.
- Take the PSAT and PLAN Test in October of sophomore year.
- Participate on high school athletic teams.
- Participate in off-season programs in your sport.
- Attend summer athletic camps at colleges that you might like to attend.
- Keep record of your athletic achievements
Junior Year
- Keep up your academic record.
- Take ACT or SAT Prep Classes.
- Take ACT or SAT Test in spring.
- Develop a list of colleges with counselor for your academic match
- Ask your coach for a realistic athletic evaluation – can you play sports at the collegiate level and at which level is appropriate – I, II, III.
- Continually update your athletic resume with improving results.
- Ask coaches for their assistance in the recruiting process.
- Send letter of interest to college coaches with your athletic resume.
- Organize a filing system on all colleges that respond to your inquiry.
- Participate in summer programs, i.e., Federation tournaments, AAU teams, State select teams, Prairie State games and summer leagues as scouts often attend these.
Senior Year
- Begin the checklist for Student Athletes and Parents Form.
- Meet with counselor to make sure you meet current NCAA academic requirements, discuss your college choices and complete the College Athlete Profile Sheet File Form 48-H with NCAA Clearinghouse. www.ncaacleringhouse.net (Available from the counselors/deans.)
- Send for and complete college applications.
- Fill out transcript request forms in Student Services.
- Complete Financial Aid forms early (before January).
- Re-take ACT or SAT Test (if needed).
- Update your resume and contact your list of college coaches.
- Produce your own video, or have your coach send game films to the college coach.
- Respond immediately to any college coach who shows interest in you.
- Provide your coach and counselor with your list of colleges, with coach’s name, address, and phone number.
- Decide whether or not to use Commercial Recruiting Services.
- Wait to commit to college athletic visit invitations until you are certain of your top five schools.


