40% of student-athletes transfer after their freshman year. Of these, another 40% transfer schools more than once. It is extremely important to spend time eliminating schools from your college search. In order to help you eliminate schools, read the list of schools you shouldn’t go to below.

1. The School That is Too Close or Too Far from Home

The data says that 58% of students go to college within 100 miles of their home town, and only 11% venture further than 500 miles for college. Decide which type of person you are, and eliminate all schools that aren’t in the desired geographical location. Each of our Summer ID Camps feature 50 college coaches from around the nation, giving you many options within the locations that work great for you!

2. Schools that are just too big or too small

Students often have clear preferences when it comes to the size of a college and the environment that this creates. Some students prefer a small campus feel while others prefer larger schools. Size plays a major role in the experience of a student. Don’t go to schools that are not intimate or large enough for you.

3. Schools that are just not the right setting for you

College setting is another major differentiating factor in your initial list creation. College experiences differ depending on where they are located, for instance; in a rural, urban or suburban environment. Students often prefer environments similar to those they grew up in. Take schools off your list if they are located in a setting you wouldn’t like to live in for four years (a city student on a rural campus for example).

4. Don’t go to a college that doesn’t have your major!

This is the most important one. While some student’s don’t know what they want to study when they first go to college, some do. If you know what path you want to take, don’t compromise and go to a school for athletic or other reasons if it doesn’t have your major. Again, each of our camps features a great variety of colleges – giving you many good options depending on your desired major.

5. Athletic Fit

Athletic Fit is another major differentiating factor for aspiring student-athletes. You will want to look at schools that carry athletic programs that are a good fit for you. This may mean high or low-level NCAA Division I, II or III, depending on your ability and preferences. Don’t go to schools that will force you to ride the bench, or where the competition is not good enough for you. To evaluate your level, look at the emails you receive from coaches after attending Future 500 – in 2022, 94.3% of coaches contacted multiple players as a result of our summer camps. If you get emails from D2 coaches, that is a good indication that you need to apply to D2 schools.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The aim when evaluating colleges is to think about all the variables. Each Future 500 camp features 55 coaches from a carefully selected mix of NCAA divisions, geographical locations, settings, academic schools and more. Getting exposure to such a large variety of schools helps you to find the ones that are a best fit for you. It broadens your list and puts you in the spotlight – creating great college exposure for yourself. Register today and save your spot for $30 down before camps hit a waitlist.