One of the biggest decisions in the college recruiting process isn’t which school wants you … it’s which school is the best fit for you.
That can be surprisingly hard to answer if you haven’t taken time to think about what you actually want.
These conversation starters and reflection questions are designed to help players and parents discover what matters most before making one of the biggest decisions of their recruiting journey.
Questions to Ask Yourself (and Each Other)
Your “Why”
- Why do I want to play college softball?
- What do I hope this experience gives me?
- If I couldn’t play softball, would I still want to go to college?
- What kind of person do I hope I become during these four years?
Academics
- What subjects genuinely interest me?
- What careers am I curious about?
- How important is academic reputation of a school to me?
- Would I rather have smaller classes or larger lectures?
- How important are internships?
Softball
- What kind of coaching helps me play my best?
- Do I want a highly competitive environment where nothing is guaranteed?
- Would I rather have a better chance to play early?
- How important is winning compared to development?
- How much structure do I want from coaches?
Living Away From Home
- How far from home am I comfortable being?
- Would I like being in a completely different climate?
- Would I enjoy living in a big city? Or would a smaller city work or more rural setting work better?
- How often do I realistically want to come home?
- Am I excited about independence or nervous about it?
Relationships
- What kind of teammates help me thrive?
- Do I want a smaller campus where I know lots of people?
- Would I enjoy a large university?
- How important is being close to extended family?
Lifestyle
- Do I enjoy being busy all the time?
- Do I need quiet places to recharge?
- What do I like doing outside of softball?
- Is having outdoor activities nearby important?
- Do I care about school traditions?
Finances
- How important is graduating with little debt?
- Would I consider a less expensive school if it was a better fit?
- What financial sacrifices is our family comfortable making?
Values
- What matters most to me in a college experience?
- What kind of environment helps me become my best self?
- Do I want a faith-based school?
- Is diversity important to me?
- What kind of people do I want to surround myself with?
Looking Ahead
Imagine it’s graduation day.
- What do I hope I’ll be proud of?
- What memories do I hope to have?
- What skills do I hope I’ve developed?
- What relationships do I hope I’ve built?
- What opportunities do I hope this school opened for me?
Conversation Starters for Parents & Players
These aren’t “right or wrong” questions. They’re designed to help families discover what matters most before making one of the biggest decisions of the recruiting process.
About College
- What excites you most about college?
- What makes you nervous?
- What would your ideal college experience look like?
- What would make a school feel like home?
About Softball
- What do you love most about playing?
- What kind of coach brings out your best?
- How important is early playing time to you?
- Would you rather compete immediately or spend time developing?
- How do you define a successful college softball career?
About Life
- How much independence are you ready for?
- How often do you think you’ll want to come home?
- What comforts from home are most important to you?
- What kind of community helps you thrive?
About Priorities
- If you could only pick three, which matter most?
- Academics
- Softball
- Cost
- Distance from home
- Playing time
- Campus culture
- Faith
- School size
- Major
- Weather
- Location
- Coaching staff
- If two schools offered the exact same scholarship, which one would you choose? Why?
- What would make you turn down a school, even if it had a great softball program?
- What are your “must-haves”?
- What are your deal-breakers?
One final question you can ask
“Based on everything we’ve learned so far, is “this school” becoming more of a fit… or less of a fit? Why?”
