Getting It Right the First Time – Part 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

I’m a firm believer that there is a school out there for every single player just as long as they are committed in the classroom and on the field. If there’s a will, there’s a way! A startling statistic I came across the other day showed that 30,000 student athletes transfer every year. Of all Division I baseball players, 27% have transferred at one point during their career! While this also includes junior college transfers, these numbers show that student-athletes are making decisions to go to a school that, for one reason or another, turns out to be the wrong fit for them. Now that the NCAA has eliminated the “one-time transfer exemption” at the Division I level, players must now sit out a year after they transfer to another school. It is more important than ever for prospective athletes to take the time to make the best decision possible!

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the bigger (and usually more visible) school is the better choice. There are more than 4,200 degree-granting institutions in the United States, and only a fraction of them get the T.V. airtime that the University of Texas, UCLA and a handful of state schools receive. Just because a school has the mystique of an appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday does not automatically make it the better school for you. There is good baseball at all levels: DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JC. Don’t get hung up on what division of baseball a program plays—your job is to find the best combination of athletics, academics and social atmosphere that is right for you.

It’s never too early to begin the college search process. While the junior year picks up significantly in intensity, there are plenty of things to do during the freshman and sophomore year. Simply reaching out and doing research on schools is a great way to get started! I have found that one of the best tools to help develop a college interest list is the College Board’s College Matchmaker. Not only does it help identify regional schools with your academic interests, but it can also divide schools by division of collegiate sport.

Making this process work for you requires a lot of research and a lot of time spent visiting schools and writing coaches. In Rob Naddelman’s last entry, he offers up some excellent thoughts on what players should ask themselves as they try to manage the college search process. What I’d like to do is give you some additional direction and criteria to evaluate schools that you are considering:

• Academics – Academics have to be the priority. A lot of money is going towards your education and many of you work too hard out there for this not to be a priority in the process! There are enough options academically to provide several possible “fits” for you athletically. All players need to ask themselves how their degree will be valued after college and what doors this education will open up. This one criterion alone can put many smaller schools above the bigger “State U” schools!
• Location – Geography is often overlooked, but can have a big impact on the college experience. Players need to consider the climate they are accustomed to and the climate of the school they are considering. There is a reason you don’t see to many native Floridians playing in Maine!

Check back next week for more key components to consider when determining the right program for your needs.

Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.