College Visit Investigation Workbook

The College Visit Investigation Workbook is designed to help athletes and families look beyond the campus tour and investigate what life at a college will actually be like. A recruiting visit can be exciting, but it is also one of the best opportunities to gather information, ask difficult questions, observe the environment, and determine whether a school is truly the right fit.

This workbook gives families a structured approach to evaluating the academic, athletic, financial, social, and everyday aspects of a college before making a commitment.

What You Can Expect to Learn:

• How to Prepare for a College Visit — Know what to research and what questions to have ready before you arrive.

• Evaluating the Coaching Staff — Look at coaching philosophy, communication, expectations, development, relationships, and program culture.

• Investigating the Players — Learn how to observe and interact with current athletes to gain insight into their actual experience.

• Evaluating Facilities — Examine athletic facilities, training areas, academic resources, housing, dining, and other important areas.

• Understanding Team Culture — Look for leadership, accountability, relationships, competitiveness, support, and the overall environment.

• Academic Evaluation — Investigate majors, class schedules, academic support, graduation expectations, and career preparation.

• Strength & Conditioning — Understand the training environment, expectations, resources, and athlete development philosophy.

• Medical & Sports Medicine Support — Ask about athletic trainers, injury management, rehabilitation, insurance, and access to medical care.

• Housing & Dining — Evaluate where athletes live, meal options, transportation, and everyday student life.

• Campus Safety & Community — Pay attention to the surrounding environment and whether the campus feels comfortable and appropriate.

• Career Opportunities — Investigate internships, networking, career services, alumni connections, and opportunities beyond athletics.

• Questions to Ask — Develop meaningful questions that can reveal information a typical campus tour may not provide.

• What to Observe — Learn how to pay attention to details, interactions, atmosphere, communication, and things that may not be directly discussed.

• Comparing Colleges — Use a structured process to compare multiple visits and avoid making a decision based purely on emotion.

The Goal

A college visit should be more than seeing the campus and meeting the coach. It should be an investigation.

This workbook helps families leave a visit with meaningful information they can use to evaluate the school, identify potential concerns, compare it with other opportunities, and determine whether the college is the right academic, athletic, financial, and personal fit.

Don't just take the tour. Investigate the opportunity.