July 1st marked the initial contact period for the class of 2016 athletes to be recruited. We reached out to some of our top 2015 standouts to get their take on the process and offer advice. See what former Chiles distance runner and Georgia Tech signee Avery Bartlett had to say.
When did coaches first start reaching out to you and how did you manage that?
I got calls the first day that they were allowed to since my coach was able to advertise me at big meets. I managed it fine since honestly the coaches do a good job handling the starting conversations and getting to know each other well. Being nice is easy.
Did you have an official visit? How did it work and what was it like?
I took an official to Ole Miss, UF, Georgetown, and Georgia tech. For the most part what happens is you hang with the guys for the first little bit and the last day before you leave, the coach walks you around meeting people and showing off their facilities. They are lots of fun since the main goal of the coaches is to impress you
What did you look for in schools when you narrowed your options down?
I really only knew what I wanted after I took all my visits. I tried to picture where this school would take me after I graduated when it is all said and done. All of them have great middle distance programs which was what I wanted in the sport. I also looked at the team history to see how forgiving the coach was if I had an off day in a race or something, and how secure it was to be in the lineup. Also, how well I clicked with the team was important. I tried to have the best balance of school, running, and just the college experience.
What ultimately made you decide on your college?
Deciding on a college was easily the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. The real thing that helped me decide was time. I told my coaches I was in no rush to make a decision, and I would tell them when I know. I talked to several people about the decision and what I wanted from college, eventually it was obvious. Georgia Tech had a great middle distance program, one of the best educations for my degree, and it was in Atlanta, so I didn't see myself being bored much.
Looking back on your recruiting experience, do you have any tips for those athletes who will be recruited in the future?
I would say that the thing that helped me is taking a lot of visits and don't trust your feeling immediately after the visits. Taking several visits helps with finding what you want in a college by comparing them. After a visit you will feel excited about the future and maybe forget some things about the other colleges that maybe we're important. I would say wait a week after a visit to really be able to digest the visit, so you don't make a decision in the moment that you may later regret.
Is there anything you would like to add?
If you are unsure about whether you want to run on the next level, I would recommend looking into it anyways. You would not believe the perks of being a student athlete. Even if you are not D1 scholarship level, it is still an amazing opportunity in my opinion.
