How’s your college search going?
More importantly, how’s your college search making you feel?
Stick with me here. I promise I haven’t gone off the deep end.
When it comes down to understanding what college is, and what we want out of college, do we really know? I mean, sometimes college seems like it’s just a place we are expected to go someday, or on the other hand, a place we never imagined we could get to.
As junior high and high school roll around, the idea of college becomes much more prevalent. It’s often something we’re expected to be working towards as students, and playing on a collegiate team quickly becomes the ultimate goal as a high school athlete. And when it comes time to get down to the brass tacks of making higher education a reality, many, many emotions come into play.
What college choice is best?
For some perfect student-athletes, the college search process can be really exciting. If you have a foundation of good grades, success on the field, and a strong support system at school and at home, it can feel like the sky’s the limit.
For some, even with all the above, it can remain the sole source of anxiety in life. On the other hand, for those needing motivation or something to work towards, or find themselves in a place they need to work their way out of, the thought of getting accepted into college or a scholarship offer may be their sole driving force.
And what about their parents? With finances often being an initial anxiety, frustration, hurdle – or roadblock – for parents, next comes the thought of your child leaving the nest. How far away will they be? Who will they live with? Who will make sure they’re being fed? Will they make good choices? This list could go on forever. The bottom line is that there is so much more to consider when considering life as a collegiate athlete then simply: “Where to?”
Choosing junior college could help ease the stress.
At NCSA Athletic Recruiting, we do believe that where you decide to attend college is a four-year decision that will impact the next 40 years of your life. What may not seem clear, however, is our belief that for many, this decision does not necessarily mean a “traditional” (or only) college path.
Maybe that four-year decision may include a couple years at junior college as part of the plan. And guess what? That’s okay. That’s more than okay. For some, a junior college may be the perfect fit when it comes to working on best practices as a student. It may be the perfect fit when it comes to developing as a player.
Where you decide to attend college is a four-year decision that will impact the next 40 years of your life.
While not an athlete, Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks recently shared a piece in the New York Times that attributes his success in life to his start at Chabot Junior College. If it’s athletic reassurance you need, guess where the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Albert Pujols, and Cam Newton (to name a few), began their post-high school football careers? At a Junior College.
But, really, anything goes – as long as you’re happy.
No matter what you think – or grew up thinking – about college, no matter how you feel – or felt in the past – about getting a scholarship or attending college, you can get a plan in place that’s right for you, and we are here with the resources to do so. It may be exciting, it may be scary as hell, it may be riddled with questions, and it may be unclear, but in the end, it will be great. And it if it’s not, we’ll be there to help you make a change.
Just don’t sell yourself short thinking athletic and academic success in college means a four-year school, right out of the gate, because for your plan, or your right fit, it may not. But in the end, it will still be great, because it will have been what was right for you.
The post Why You Should Consider Choosing Junior College appeared first on NCSA Athletic Recruiting Blog.
