Post #98 – 6/19/23 – Being Proactive
There are actions you can take to gain an edge in your college search
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Use Your Hockey Travels This Summer To Your Advantage
Put that trip to the Beantown Showcase to good use this summer and go visit some college campuses!
Whether you’re at a camp, showcase, or tournament, you should be going to visit schools. As long as you are within a decent amount of drive time that is.
The school visit is one of the best activities you can do to help in your college process. There is nothing like smelling the smells and putting yourself in your potential physical environment for the 4-best years of your life. Even if the school isn’t on your ‘priority’ list.
Taking a college visit can do a 2 things:
- It can prepare you for a future visit that matters… It’s like a dry-rehearsal. You can make all the mistakes without any of the consequences impacting you. Take the wrong turns, visit on the wrong day of the week, ask the awkward questions to the tour guide. But do take note of what you would do differently. This way, the next time you take a visit to a school you have an interest in – you can get that visit right.
- You may just get that feeling… you hear a lot of people say, well, I just had that feeling walking around that this was the place for me. Or the opposite may be true… nope, no way I’m going here! Either way, you’re going to get a feeling, good or bad. But one thing will be true, you’ll know what to compare on your next visit somewhere.
You can always spend the money to go visit somewhere. But if you’re already in an area to attend some hockey event, why not kill two birds? Do a little planning, see what campuses are close by, and find sometime to fit a couple stops in.
Here is a couple of rules about college visits to keep in mind:
First, if you plan to visit a D-I school with a hockey program, do know that coaches will not be able to meet with you prior to August 1 of your grade 10 year. If you’re already in grade 11, then you have nothing to worry about.
Second, if you are of age and want to get some face time with a member of the coaching staff, do plan in advance. Reach out several weeks before your visit and see if anyone on staff is available.
Third, as they say – you only get one time to make a first impression. So, if you are able to set up a day/time to meet with the coaching staff, A) Show up early, B) Dress appropriately, and C) Have some questions ready to ask.
The bottom line… if you’re already traveling somewhere for hockey, put that money to good use and go see some schools! Do some homework and see what schools are in the area, contact admissions to schedule a tour around campus, and just go explore.
Until Next Time Everyone… Be Well and take Care,
-Streams for games in the ECAC can be found HERE. Subscriptions will be necessary to watch games.
-Streams in the WCHA can be found HERE. Subscriptions will be necessary to watch games.
-Streams in Hockey East this year can be found HERE. Hockey East once again is streaming all game live and for FREE.
-Streams for CHA games with the exception of Penn St. can be found HERE. Paid subscriptions will be necessary to watch games.
-Streams for NEWHA games can be found at each teams’ website. Subscriptions may be necessary to watch games.
NCAA Coaching Changes… Keep up with all the coaching changes across D-I and D-III HERE.
Recruiting Events/League Online Directory… Find all the recruiting events on WCH.org right HERE. Want to add your event? Click HERE to fill out our WCH.org event form.
Grant Kimball is founder and contributing writer at Women’s College Hockey.org and beginning his 4th season as an Assistant Coach with the Yale University women’s hockey program. Grant has developed an experienced perspective in the world of women’s ice hockey, having coached and recruited players from across the globe during his 25+ year amateur and NCAA coaching career. He has coached at 6 NCAA DIII and DI programs in the NCHA (D3), the CHA, WCHA, Hockey East, ECAC, and the Ivy League (DI). Beyond coaching, Grant served as a site representative for the 2019 NCAA quarterfinal of the D-I NCAA Tournament. He also currently serves as an Officer with the American Hockey Coaches Association as Vice President of Membership and sits on the AHCA’s Women’s Hockey Executive Committee.
