College Visits

You have probably heard of unofficial and official visits to a college. But do you know the difference between the two? And how to prepare for a visit? What about ensuring you ask the right questions to make the best use of your time? Don't worry! The Hub will give you a very golf-specific guide to college visits. Let's go!

Keep in mind that college visits are a big deal. It's a chance to explore the campus, picture yourself going to school there, dive deep into academics, meet with the golf coaches, students, members of the team, and more. Four years of your life are going to be spent at this school. Make sure you are prepared to make the most educated decision possible for golf and, most importantly, academics.

First, let's explore the difference between an unofficial and official visit:

Unofficial Visits

Unofficial visits can occur at any time and are paid for by the prospective student-athlete. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like, and may take those visits at any time except during a dead period. The visits are a chance to explore the campus, learn more about academics, and meet the coach if possible. Feel free to take unofficial visits at any time throughout high school if you are interested in a school. If you are on the road with your parents for tournament play, consider planning an unofficial visit to a nearby school!

There are many benefits to planning an unofficial visit. First, speaking with coaches early in your college golf search is a very valuable experience (note: please see the exception below). Not only will a coach recognize you and your name at future tournaments, but you will also learn how to communicate with coaches in person. Communication is key! You may be nervous talking to a coach, but you will become more comfortable with each successive visit, and as you continue practicing.

Unofficial visits will help you refine exactly what it is you need from a school to be happy there. For example, there will be schools where you will get out of the car and walk the campus and fall in love with the school immediately. There are also schools you may visit and get an immediate feeling that it's not for you. That's okay! You want to be able to see yourself there. Take a walk through some of the buildings, check out the class sizes, and observe as much as possible. You'll likely visit a bunch of schools along the way, so take photos and notes! Make sure to use the note feature on the My Colleges page of your Hub profile to keep your notes organized.

Please note, we recommend calling the head coach's office to set up an unofficial visit. As we mentioned, select coaches (NCAA D-I, D-II in particular) can't respond to emails until June 15 after your sophomore year, so calling is often the better approach before then. You should start calling roughly five weeks in advance, and don't be afraid to be persistent. Also, don't be discouraged if you do not get a response. You should also check the team's schedule on their website and plan your visit around it. Lastly, feel free to check out the Hub's list of questions for official visits below and use a few (or more!) on your unofficial visit. Good luck!

*Note that for NCAA Division I, there can be no in-person meetings with the coach or athletic department during an unofficial visit before August 1 prior to junior year in high school.

Official Visits

Official visits are a different game entirely! These are formal visits paid for by the college. The coach will likely have already contacted you to come visit the campus. Keep in mind that by paying for the visit, the coach is signaling that you are a top prospect. Great! The school will pay for all expenses, such as food, travel, etc., and remember that you must have an Academic and Athletics Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center before you can go on an official visit.

Preparing for an Official Visit

When going on an official visit, we suggest that you politely request the following to be part of your visit:

• Take a tour of the campus

• Talk with a faculty member or dean in the school of your intended major

• Have an overnight visit with the team (if possible)

• Sit in on a class related to your intended major

• See a typical freshman dorm

• Meet with golf team members (as many as possible)

• Take a tour of the golf practice facilities

• Take a tour of the workout facility

• Sit in on a team practice

• See a school sporting event during the visit (if possible)

Sample Questions to Ask on an Official Visit

To keep you organized, we've put together a detailed list of questions to ask on your visit:

Roster Spots & Recruiting

• How many spots on the team are available for my year?

• Have you already had players commit for my graduating year? If so, how many?

• Where do I fit in among the players you are recruiting?

A Week in the Life

• What does a typical week look like?

• How many hours a week does the team practice?

• What is the typical time commitment per week for golf?

• What is expected on weekends?

• What kind of travel can team members expect?

Coach and Coaching Philosophy

• What is your coaching philosophy?

• Do you provide instruction to players?

• What other coaches are affiliated with the golf team?

• What's your general coach-player relationship like? On and off the course?

Playing on the Team

• How does qualifying work to set the starting five for a given tournament?

Academics

• What majors do people on the team typically have?

• What are the GPA expectations for team members?

• What academic support services are available to students?

• Are there any academic services that are exclusively provided to athletes or golf team members?

• What do I do if any of my classes or tests conflict with practice times, workouts, or the travel schedule?

Offers and Scholarships

• What is your process for offer letters? Signing process (NCAA D-I, D-II only)? Or written or verbal commitment?

• Is your scholarship program fully funded?

• What type of scholarship could I expect if I were offered a spot on the team?

• What type of scholarships do you offer — fixed amount, or percentage-based?

• Is there an opportunity to increase the scholarship over time? If so, how?

Facilities

• What are the practice facilities at the college?

• Are there indoor facilities available to players?

• What gym does the golf team use for workouts?

Workouts

• How often are team workouts?

• Can you give an example of a typical workout?

• Is there a dedicated, golf-specific or TPI-certified trainer on staff?

Coaches will likely have questions for you on an official visit — and even an unofficial visit! You'll want to be prepared to answer as many questions as possible. You want to answer confidently — this will show the coach that you are prepared to visit with them and that you're serious about life on a college golf team. Also, be honest! It's better for you to give the coach honest answers and show that you are genuine. They'll learn a lot from you in this brief time.

We recommend you come prepared to answer the following:

Questions to Be Prepared For

Your Background

• Tell me a bit about yourself.

• What are your academic and golfing goals?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a player? As a student?

• What sets you apart from other recruits/students?

• How do you handle adversity? Success?

College and Golf Program

• Why my school?

• Do you have an intended major?

• How much do you know about our golf program?

• Why do you want to play golf in college?

• Will you be willing to apply Early Decision?

• What are you looking to get out of your college experience?

Recruiting

• Where does my school and golf program stand on your list of college choices?

• What other schools are you looking at?

• Have you received any offers from other schools?

• Are you looking for a scholarship or any form of financial assistance?

Golf-Specific

• How long have you been playing golf?

• Who is your current swing instructor? Workout coach?

• What is your tournament scoring average?

• How far do you hit your driver? 7-iron?

• What does your tournament schedule look like?

• How long per week do you typically practice?

• What does a typical practice session look like?

Questions

• Do you have any questions for me? (Have lots of questions!)

When answering these questions, keep a few things in mind. You want to answer honestly, but still be able to sell yourself. For any kind of visit or interaction with a college employee or coach, it is imperative that you look them in the eye upon introduction and greet them with a firm handshake. First impressions are memorable. You should have already done research on the schools you're looking at, and you should answer the coach's questions accordingly. Much like your profile on the Hub, a meeting with a coach can be extremely telling of who you are. We want to help you put your best foot forward.

Lastly, we recommend that you practice answering these questions with a parent or trusted friend. This "role-play" can work wonders for you. Rehearse your answers in advance, and you will feel more prepared in front of the coach!

Enjoy your Journey!