The Cringiest Thing to Cut From Your Campus Recruiting Visit

Prospects tell us there are a few things that just don't matter much when you're hosting them on campus. So why is it so hard for coaches to eliminate them?...

If you read our Tuesday College Recruiting Weekly email newsletter that arrives in your Inbox - and you should - you have noticed the graphic of a stat that we’ve talked about for several years. In case you missed it, here it is again:

Whenever are at a college leading our recruiting training workshops and we talk about this, along with the other things visiting prospects say are non-factors or real negatives when it comes to choosing a college they are visiting, coaches cringe. And if any admissions department personnel are in the room, they really cringe.

"Don’t have a visiting prospect sit in on a class?…eliminate the meeting with the professor?… “but we’re a college, this is a place of higher learning. They’re going to spend a lot of time in class, with professors, so why wouldn’t they want to see and hear examples of what they will get to be a part of once they’re here?”

Makes sense to me. I mean, I’d want that if I were going back to school and visiting a campus. Then again, I’m in my late 50’s. And while I do have some eligibility left, I don’t think you want me on your team at this point.

So, the question is, why isn’t this important to your prospects?

First of all, let me point out that there are prospects who want to sit in on a class, and meet with a professor. Or, at least they wouldn’t mind it. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-37% of prospects say they’d be fine with those meetings. For those prospects, they should get those meetings on their itinerary.

But that should be the exception, not the rule. At least according to years of research and real time feedback from prospects who are about to go on their campus visits, as well as the new freshmen athletes on your team who just got through doing a bunch of them as a part of their decision making process. Why? Because 63-65% of your recruits - almost 7 out of 10 - don’t care about it. Sitting in on a class and meeting with professors doesn’t move the needle. You’re boring them.

Why is that?

• Most tell us they wouldn’t be on your campus unless they had at least a reasonably good idea that it would be the right academic fit.

• Most tell us they are there as athletes first, students second. *Cringe* I know, I know…that’s not how they should be looking at this, in most cases. But they do. And your job is to sell them on your program and campus now, which means you need to meet them where they’re at when it comes to the factors they are using, or not using, to make that decision.

• Most tell us sitting in on a class is boring, and prevents them from getting a ‘feel’ for the rest of campus. For them, as incoming 16, 17 and 18 year old college prospects, they aren’t looking at everything logically (as you may have noticed). Sitting in on a class just isn’t ranking high on their list.

• Most tell us meeting with a professor is intimidating, and they struggle with coming away feeling like they held their own in the conversation. Some even talk about how it made them question their ability to handle college work, and even more talk about professors explaining how hard it’s going to be to participate in both athletics and keep up with college classes.

A different way to approach these mainstays in college visits

When we talk to coaches about this whole concept, most of them get it. You remember what was important to you, and what you were trying to get a feel for, when you were visiting campuses: What does the coach think of me? Does the team seem to like me? How do I like the overall feel of campus? Do they want me here?

If those are the main drivers in decision making - and make no mistake, for the vast majority of your prospects regardless of what division level you coach in, they are the main drivers - should you devote time to sitting in on a class, and meeting with a professor? Especially on a one day visit, where you literally only have a few hours to showcase those key areas they care about?

That’s up to you - and admissions, and your athletic director, or anyone else who has some say over what goes into your visit itinerary. But if you’re wondering how to approach this proactively, in a way we’ve seen be successful, here are some ideas I’d recommend implementing:

Ask your prospect what they want before they come to visit - but probably not like you may be asking now. Most coaches and admissions departments will ask a