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Everything You Need to Know About Official Visits

Going on official visits is one of the most exciting parts of the recruiting process. Not only do you have the opportunity to see a college campus in person but being invited also signifies that the coach is very interested in you as a recruit. This is your opportunity to get to know the campus, the culture, the team and the dorms and then decide if you would feel comfortable living there for the next four years.

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What is an official visit.

So, what makes a visit official? Any visit to a college campus in which any part is financed by the school is considered an official visit. Coaches usually save invitations for their top recruits and getting asked is a huge step on your recruiting journey. It’s important to prepare in advance for this crucial part of the recruiting process. We’ve put together everything you need to know to ace your next official visit.

NCAA official visit rules

Each division level has its own set of rules surrounding official college visits. Division I has the strictest regulations. The following are the rules you need to know:

• The NCAA allows recruits an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools. Recruits are limited to one per school, unless there is a head coaching change after their visit, in which they are permitted a second visit. Visits to Division II and Division III schools are unlimited.
• The school can pay for the following for you and your parents/guardians: transportation to and from the campus, lodging throughout your visit, three meals per day and three tickets to a home sports event.
• Schools may pay for a recruit’s transportation to and from campus. However, they can only provide transportation for parent/guardians if they travel in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents.
• At all levels, recruits can take only one official visit per school.
• Each official visit may be up to 48 hours long, or the span of one weekend.
• D1 men’s ice hockey recruits can begin taking official visits as early as August 1 of their junior year in high school.
• D1 football recruits can begin taking official visits starting April 1 of their junior year of high school.
• D1 women’s basketball recruits may begin taking official visits in April of their junior year of high school, beginning the Thursday following the Women’s Final Four tournament.
• D1 lacrosse, softball and baseball recruits may begin taking official visits September 1 of their junior year of high school.
• For all other DI sports, recruits can begin taking official visits starting August 1 before the athlete’s junior year of high school.
• Official visits are not allowed to occur during recruiting dead periods.

Within these official rules, each school will have a slightly different way in which they conduct visits. Some schools will be able to finance your whole trip, paying for transportation, meals, lodging and tickets to a home game. But this is the maximum of what colleges can provide for their recruits. Some programs simply may not have the money to pay for your entire visit, opting to finance just a small portion of your visit. An official visit can also include having an on-campus lunch or dinner that is purchased by the coach. It doesn’t have to last the full 48 hours—again, that’s the maximum amount but not a requirement.

Generally speaking, the more money a coach spends on your official visit, the higher up on their list you are as a recruit. However, that’s not a reason to discount a program that’s trying to recruit on a budget. If you’re interested in a school, official visits can be the last piece of the puzzle to help you understand if it’s your best college fit.

What are the new recruiting rules around official visits?

Effective on April 13, 2023, the NCAA Division I Council announced that they will no longer limit the number of official visits recruits can make to NCAA member schools. Starting July 1, 2023, recruits are permitted an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools, unless there is a head coaching change post-visit, in which case recruit is allowed to complete a second official visit to the same school. For men’s basketball, prospects still will be able to complete a second official visit to the same school, as long as it do not occur in the same academic year.

Effective May 1, 2019, the NCAA created a series of updated recruiting rules to slow down the recruiting process and cut back on the number of recruits getting verbal offers as eighth graders, freshmen and sophomores in high school. Athletes will now have more time to research colleges and focus on developing athletically and academically. Then, as juniors and seniors in high school, they will be better equipped to decide which college or university is right for them.

According to the new rules, DI recruits in most sports can now start taking official and unofficial visits starting August 1 before their junior year of high school. In the past, official visits weren’t permitted until the athlete’s senior year of high school and there were no restrictions on unofficial visits. While this is exciting news for recruits eager to visit campuses, these rule changes will also likely put more emphasis on athletes and families needing to be proactive early in the recruiting process. With top prospects being offered official visits their junior year, this means even more schools can lock down their recruiting classes early. As a recruit, you need to start the recruiting process as early as possible so you’re ready for official visit invites August 1 before junior year.

How does an official visit work?

Depending on the sport and division level, athletes can begin taking official visits junior year. A coach may extend an official visit offer to recruits during a phone call, email, text or direct message. Once a coach invites you, grab your family schedule and work out a weekend to take the trip.

While receiving an invite does indicate you are at the top of a coach’s recruiting list, it doesn’t mean you’ve locked in your spot just yet. This means the coach will be evaluating you during your entire official visit. Most importantly, visits are a great way for coaches to get a better understanding of your personality and character. They want to see if you are a recruit who will be a positive asset to their team and the school.

To learn more, check out our video on  how to schedule your visits , where NCSA recruiting experts share what you can expect. This includes what travel expenses might be covered by the program, activities that coaches use to introduce you to the team and campus, and what coaches expect from recruits during a visit. 

Insider Tip : Coaches will look at how you interact with your parents—are you respectful, courteous and kind? Or, do you brush them off and behave rudely? Do you answer the coaches’ questions thoughtfully or do you give one-word responses? While it may be intimidating to visit a college campus and get evaluated by the coaches throughout, it’s important to make an effort to put your best foot forward.

How to prepare for your official visit

Because official visits are more formal than unofficial visits, there’s a bit more prep work required from athletes before the visit takes place. Follow this checklist to make sure you’ve covered all your bases:

• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center . Before your visit, the coach needs to know that you are eligible to actually compete at their school. If you’re visiting Division I and Division II schools, you need to get a Certification Account . Make sure that your parent/guardian is with you as you sign up, because there is a fee involved. This is a good step to take your sophomore year of high school, so you’re ready to start taking official visits your junior year. If you’re visiting a Division III school, sign up for an NCAA Profile page, which is the free version of the Certification Account. You only need a Certification Account if you’re actively getting recruited by Division I and/or Division II colleges. When you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center , you will receive your NCAA ID number. Many coaches will ask for your NCAA ID number before your official visit.
• Have the coach add you to the Institutional Request List. This is another formality to ensure that you are eligible to compete at an NCAA school. Request that the coach add you to the IRL list, which will put your Eligibility Center application on a fast track to get cleared. Because the NCAA receives so many requests through its Eligibility Center, the Institutional Request List serves to make sure athletes who need to be cleared quickly will be.
• Send the admissions office your transcript and a standardized test score. If you’ve already registered with the Eligibility Center, the school should be able to access your transcript and test scores. However, this step helps the admissions office ensure that your academic criteria are up to the standards of that school, while the NCAA Eligibility Center ensures that you’ve met the academic requirements mandated by the NCAA to compete in college sports.
• Know how you will respond if you receive an offer. As mentioned earlier, offers are not guaranteed during official visits, but they do happen. To avoid freezing on the spot, go into your official visit with a game plan for how you will respond. If this is your top school and you’ve visited the other colleges you’re interested in, it might make sense to say yes as soon as possible. However, if you have other schools on your list, you can ask the coach when the offer will expire.

• Put together your list of questions for the coach. During your official visit, you will have a chance to get all your questions answered, so take advantage of this opportunity. Sit down with your parents before the visit and brainstorm all your questions. Write down your questions for the coach and bring the list with you. This way, you don’t forget an important topic and you can impress the coach with your preparedness.

Read more: How to Maximize Your Summer Visits

Do parents go on official visits?

Parents are invited to go on official visits. The school can pay for three meals per day and tickets to a home sports match. However, the school is only allowed to pay for their transportation to and from campus if the parents are traveling in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents. Parents have a very specific role throughout the official visit: Let the athlete be the focus of the experience.

For some parents, it might be hard to let go and allow their student-athlete to take center stage during this visit. However, parents should let their athlete ask questions and take control of the conversation. Give them an opportunity to hold a candid, uninterrupted conversation with the coach. Allow them to make their own opinions about the school before injecting your point of view. When the conversation turns to finances, scholarships and paying for college, this is where coaches typically expect parents to jump in .

For more on the topic, check out the video below featuring former sports broadcaster David Kmiecik and D1 and D3 swim coach Danny Koenig.

Read more:   Recruiting Tips for Parents

What happens on an official visit?

While every official visit will be slightly different, recruits can expect that the trip will include a campus tour. This is your chance to familiarize yourself with the campus and ask yourself if you would enjoy living there for four years. As you tour the campus, take notes. When you’re trying to remember what you liked—and didn’t like—about each of the schools you visited, you can refer back to your notes to help jog your memory about the trip. Use the following checklist to make sure you hit all the key spots on campus:

• Check out the library and sit in on a class.
• Visit the different housing options, both on and off campus.
• Meet your future training staff.
• Eat in the school cafeteria or food court.
• Set up a meeting with an academic adviser.
• Hang out on the campus grounds.
• Stay off your phone and experience the campus.

Coaches typically will want you to meet a few members of the team—or the whole team—to see how your chemistry checks out. You may also be invited to participate in a workout or another team activity. According to NCAA rules, however, any kind of workout you attend on an official visit cannot be organized by the coach or coaching staff. Typically, the workout will be led by the team’s captains. Take this opportunity to see if you connect with your potential teammates.

Questions to expect from the coach on your official visit

You will also likely get some one-on-one time with the coach. This is a chance for you to ask any final questions that you have. Before your visit, write down some questions and keep adding to the list so you have something to go off of when you sit down with the coach. The coach will also probably have some questions for you, too. Here are just a few examples of questions to expect from a coach during your visit:

• “What other schools are recruiting you?” Be honest here and tell the coach other schools you’re actively talking to. If it’s true, list schools that are rivals with or comparable to the school you’re visiting. This will make the coach want you on their team even more.
• “What other colleges are you visiting?” Again, it’s important to be honest. If you have—or haven’t—visited any other schools yet, let them know.
• “When can you commit?” While getting invited on an official visit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get an offer, it certainly does happen. If this is your number one school and you have a good feeling about it, this might be the right time to lock down a commitment. If you have any other schools to visit before you make your decision, that’s OK, too. Simply make an educated guess when you think you will know. Ask the coach how long the offer stands and when they would like to know your answer.

Some coaches will arrange for you and your parents to attend a home sporting event. They might also have a teammate take you to dinner or walk you around campus again. Plus, you’ll get some free time to explore the area and learn more about the school.

What to bring on an official visit

A lot of recruits ask us what to wear on an official visit, and our best piece of advice is to err on the side of overdressing, rather than underdressing. You want to look neat and clean throughout your entire trip. For men, bring a collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis. For women, a skirt, dress, nice slacks or jeans are acceptable. Avoid wearing sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, flip flops and ripped jeans. Bring athletic clothes and shoes in case you get invited to work out with the team.

As mentioned before, it’s a great idea to come with some questions for the coach. When the moment comes to ask your questions, it’s easy to freeze up and forget them all. Having them written down will ensure you get the answers you need, plus it will show the coach that you are organized and responsible. Make sure you do your homework and read up on the school, too.

Your follow-up after the visit

Have you ever heard that the follow-up is the most important part? After each visit, make sure you follow up with the coach. Send them a “thank you” note, thanking them for their time and telling them some of your favorite parts of the visit. You can also let the coach know where you’ll be competing next if they’d like to watch you in person. The follow-up shows the coach you’re a thoughtful, courteous athlete, and it also keeps you top-of-mind as they assemble their roster.

Overall, enjoy your visit! This is your chance to get the “red carpet” treatment and get a taste of what life at that college will be like.

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Official vs. Unofficial Visits: What’s the Difference?

Whether you’re an aspiring college athlete or not, one of the most effective parts of the college application process is visiting a campus. It’s the best way to find out if you like or don’t like a campus and why.

Every college admissions office puts together a laundry list of visit opportunities for prospective students on a yearly basis, but there is an extra wrinkle for prospective student-athletes. That comes in the form of official and unofficial visits. While everyone understands that one is official and the other isn’t, what are the differences and how do they apply to those impacted?

Official Visit vs. Unofficial Visit

Official visits are any trips to college campuses by a prospective student-athlete that’s paid for by the college they’re visiting.

Unofficial visits are completely paid for by the prospective student-athlete or their family.

The benefit of official visits is that they allow a college to really “wine and dine” a recruit. When hosting someone for an official visit, college programs can pay for the transportation needed by the recruit to get to and from campus, their housing and three meals per day for both the athlete and a parent. Colleges can also include tickets to a home sports event.

There is no flexibility for college athletic programs to pay for anything when it comes to an unofficial visit, but they’re still able to reserve tickets for the recruit and their family to a home sports event.

As one can imagine, the NCAA enforces some regulations on official visits. At the Division I and II level, student-athletes are allowed just one official visit per school, and five total. So if you find yourself being asked to go on several official visits, you need to be thoughtful of how you spend them.

There is no limit at Division III or NAIA schools with regard to total official visits made by a recruit, but they can only make one visit per school. If you’re taking unofficial visits, though, recruits and/or their families can visit as many colleges as many times as they want.

What Doesn’t Change

The big, overarching concept that’s the same between both official and unofficial visits is how one evaluates the school itself. Don’t forget, it’s important to like more things about a school than solely the athletics program. Asking yourself the same questions regardless of what type of visit you’re on is crucial to making an informed decision when the time comes.

• How are the dorms?
• Is the food any good? Hey, this is important! You have to eat least three times a day for four years, ya know.
• What are the academic buildings like? Are you a fan of the campus layout? What about the surrounding area? Would you be excited to attend this school even if sports weren’t a factor?
• Don’t forget about academics. What majors, advising programs, and internship opportunities are available? What resources are available to help you succeed?

This is just the start. Head over to the bookstore, ask current students (both athletes and non-athletes) as many questions as you can, and try to research any unanswered questions after you get home.

A Secret Tip: Act Natural

Here’s the thing—you’ll probably feel like a high school student during these visits. That’s OK because, well, you are a high school student. But I have a secret to tell you: as long as you’re not walking around with your parents or a bunch of other recruits and aren’t on an official tour of the campus, you’ll look just like just all the other college students there. It’s true. Nobody will know the difference.

This is an awesome opportunity to wander around campus by yourself and get a sense of what your experience as a student could be like.

You might be thinking, “But that’s weird! I don’t want to do that!” I get it—I would’ve thought the same thing as a high school junior or senior. However, you’re going to have to do this for real (like meet other students and speak to campus administration) sooner than you think, so there’s no better time than now to give it a try.

When you go on official visits or do admissions-sponsored tours/programs, you’re going to see the best and most wonderful things about that school. That’s literally their job. There are plenty of awesome colleges out there, but no place is all sunshine and rainbows. Exploring the campus by yourself is an opportunity to get a sense of what potential downfalls there are, and it’ll give you a chance to decide whether any of them are deal-breakers or not.

See if people hold doors open for you. Are students walking around campus with a smile on their face? If you get something to eat in the cafeteria, can you sit down with a random person to eat without feeling like an outcast? Is it easy to set up a meeting with the dean of students? Whether your experiences are positive or negative, it’s a decent indicator of what your experience at that college/university could be like.

Visits are an integral part of the college admissions process, regardless of whether you’re a recruited athlete or not. When you get the opportunity to visit a campus you’re potentially interested in, take full advantage of the time you have there.

Photo Credit: Andrei Stanescu/iStock

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Official vs Unofficial Visits: Official Visits Explained

Taking a college visit is an important part of the recruiting process. Understanding the differences between official and unofficial visits can help you plan your recruitment efficiently. An official visit is an opportunity for a college to pay for a recruit’s transportation, food, and accommodations, while an unofficial visit requires the recruit to pay for those expenses. Both visits allow the school to purchase tickets to a home sporting event for the recruit. In this article, we will explain the details of an official visit.

WHAT IS AN OFFICIAL VISIT?

A college campus visit that has any part financed by the school is considered an official visit. College coaches typically save official visit invitations for their top recruits, and players they believe could deserve a scholarship offer. To be invited on an official visit is a great opportunity for your recruiting process.

Official college visit rules vary, depending on the level a school is regulated. NCAA Division I has the most strict regulations, listed below are the rules you will need to follow:

Only 5 visits to Division I schools. There is no limit of official visits to Division II & Division III schools, but all NCAA official visits are limited to one per school.

Schools can pay expenses for you and your family. The school can pay for transportation to and from the campus, accommodation during your visit, three meals per day, and three tickets to a home sporting event for you and two of your family members (most schools require parents or guardians specifically).

Schools can only provide transportation to and from the campus for family members if they travel in the same car as the recruit. Flights, or separate bus/train tickets can’t be purchased for family members.

Official visits can last up to 48 hours, or the duration of one weekend.

Official visits for Division I sports are allowed on August 1, before a recruit’s junior year of high school. This rule excludes Division I Men’s & Women’s Basketball.

Men’s Division I basketball recruits can begin taking official visits January 1 of their junior year of high school.

Women’s Division I basketball recruits can begin taking official visits in April of their junior year of high school, the Thursday after the Women’s Final Four tournament.

Official visits are not allowed during recruiting dead periods .

WHAT ARE NCAA DIVISIONS?

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

NAIA rules are not as specific as the NCAA. You will need to communicate with your coach about the details involving the costs and activities of your visit.

There is no limit to the number of NAIA schools a recruit can visit, but they are limited to one per school.

Expenses covered or reimbursed for recruits is at the discretion of the school. Expenses can include transportation, accommodation, and/or meals.

School funded attendance at ID camps or individual evaluation sessions are considered official visits.

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

Junior College rules vary, depending on the regions and institutions. Here are a some of the most common rules to follow:

There is no limit to the number of NJCAA schools a recruit can visit, but they are limited to one per school.

Expenses covered or reimbursed for recruits is at the discretion of the school. Expenses can include transportation, accommodation, and meals.

Schools are NOT ALLOWED to pay expenses for a recruit’s parents/guardians or family members that join them on their visit.

A recruit must have completed their junior year of high school to be eligible for an official visit to a NJCAA school.

WHY TAKE A VISIT?

If a coach invites you on an official visit, you should consider it a good sign that the program is serious about your recruitment.An official visit is an additional opportunity for coaches to evaluate recruits. Throughout the visit coaches will be trying to get a better understanding of your personality & character. They will try to determine if you are a good fit for their team and school.

Additional Evaluation

Coaches will pay close attention to how a recruit interacts with their parents/guardians, to help better determine an athlete’s general demeanor. Does the recruit act respectfully, courteously, and kindly to their parents & family? Or does the recruit respond rudely?

Coaches will also use the recruit’s answers to questions to gather a better understanding of a player. Does the recruit give thoughtful answers, or quick one word responses? Does the recruit ask questions in response, or just expect to only give answers during conversations?

BE PREPARED

Official visits require prep work from recruits before the visit takes place. Here are a few tasks to be completed when taking an official visit.

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

To take an official visit, the coach needs to know that you are eligible to compete at their school. To visit Division I and Division II schools, a Certification Accoun t is needed. The NCAA Eligibility Center will issue you a NCAA ID number upon registration. Coaches will ask you for the NCAA ID number before your official visit.

Be added to the Institutional Request List

Ask the coach to add you to the Institutional Request List , which wil l fast track your NCAA Eligibility Center application process. Because of the large number of requests received by the NCAA Eligibility Center , the IRL makes sure that athletes can be cleared quickly due to time constraints.

Send the admissions office your transcript

The school should be able to access your transcript and test scores through the NCAA Eligibility Center , but you should send your transcript and scores to the admissions office to ensure that you meet the academic criteria of that school. The NCAA Eligibility Center only ensures that athletes meet the academic requirements needed to compete in college sports.

COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Be ready to respond to an offer

An official invite does not guarantee an offer, but you should definitely be prepared for the best case scenario. If you have additional visits scheduled, it might make sense to ask the coach when the offer will expire and if it's possible to take some time to think about your answer. If you have no more visits scheduled and are offered by your top choice, saying yes as soon as possible could be the right choice. No matter the decision made, you should be prepared for that conversation on your visit.

Have questions for the coach

At some point during an official visit, you will be able to ask questions of the coaches. This is one of the major advantages of taking an official visit, and the opportunity should not be wasted. You should create a detailed list of questions to ask the coach, and bring the list with you on the visit. The list will ensure all your questions are answered, as well as impress the coach with your high level of preparedness.

PARENTS’ ROLE

Parents & family members have an important role during an official visit - Ensure the recruit is the focus of the experience. Family members should allow the athlete to ask questions and direct the conversations. The recruit should be able to hold open & honest conversations with the coach throughout the visit. Family members can allow the athlete to make their own opinions about the school, before adding perspective. Once the conversation makes its way to finances, school costs, and scholarship opportunities, the family members are expected to jump in and contribute to the conversations.

WHAT HAPPENS ON A VISIT?

Every official visit will be different, but there are some similarities that can be counted on.

Campus Tour

Sit in on a class

Visit the housing options (on & off campus)

Meet the training staff

Eat in the school dining hall, food court, or cafeteria

Meet with an athletic-specific academic advisor

Meet team members (sometimes the entire team)

EXPECTED COACHES QUESTIONS

You will have an opportunity to speak with coaches one-on-one at some point during the visit. As previously stated, having questions ready for the coach is helpful, but you will also need to be ready for the type of questions coaches will ask. Here are a few examples that can be expected from a coach during a visit.

What other schools are recruiting you?

What other colleges are you visiting?

When can you commit?

What is the most important aspect of your decision?

What do you enjoy most about our program?

Why do you think you would be a good fit at our school?

Will you accept our offer for an athletic scholarship?

THE FOLLOW UP

After each visit, be sure to follow up with coaches. Send them a “thank you” note, or message, thanking them for their time & effort, as well as explaining what were your favorite parts of the visit. The follow up shows coaches that you are a thoughtful person & keeps you in their mind during the recruiting process.

Now that you understand official visits, you should Schedule a Free Assessment to begin your recruiting process.

If you have already begun the recruiting process, be sure to increase your efforts through our Recruitment Services .

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Articles & Advice > College Athletics > Blog

Official College Visit Tips for Student-Athletes

If you end up one of the chosen athletes to attend an official college visit, make sure to prepare so you and the coach both get as much out of it as possible.

by Megan Gibbs Director of CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Mar 24, 2023

Originally Posted: Nov 27, 2012

For student-athletes in their senior year of high school, the official campus visit is one of the more exciting recruitment tactics used by college coaches to find the right athletes for their schools. Official college visits are not offered to just anyone; only the best of the best are invited personally by interested coaches. If you end up being one of the chosen athletes to be whisked away on an official visit, make sure you’re prepared and know the right questions to ask so you and the coach both get as much out of it as possible. Here’s what to know and what to expect before going off on your college visit journey and meeting with the coach of your preferred sport.

What is an "official visit"?

According to the NCAA, when you are invited on an official visit, "the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals...for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sports event." Before you can be invited, you need to submit a copy of your high school transcript (as well as standardized test scores for Division I schools) to the college, in addition to registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center . Per NCAA guidelines for most sports, you can only visit a college on an official visit once  and have only five total visits to all Division I schools; however, an unlimited number of official visits may be made to Division II schools. Unofficial visits—where travel, lodging, and meal expenses are paid for by you and your family—are also unlimited. 

What to expect

Colleges vary when it comes to hosting prospective athletes. Some may have you stay with one student who is on the team and it will be their job to show you around, while some will have you share your time with multiple people. With most visits, you will be on the campus for about (but no more than) 48 hours, and you will experience every aspect of college life , from checking out a practice, watching a game, and touring the campus to eating at the cafeteria , going to class, and joining in on the social atmosphere. It will be a jam-packed day or two where you will get to meet up with the coach and discuss your future at the college and on the team. Maybe you'll even get a scholarship offer while you're there! The school can also set up meetings with an academic counselor or professor in your desired major so you can get a better feel for the academics. All in all, it's an intense but potentially very enlightening experience.

Related:  Why You Shouldn't Expect a Full Ride for College Sports

Questions you should ask on the visit

Having questions prepared shows a huge level of interest in the college's athletic program and the coach. Here are a few to get you started:

• What is the team's travel schedule like? How does that factor into academics/school?
• How does the coach see you as a fit for the team? Would you be a starter? Walk on? Are there already many athletes in your position, i.e., four offensive wings so you would be the fifth—and would that be worth it?
• How many athletes are being recruited for the team?
• What is the practice schedule like/how many hours per week?
• Is there practice in the off season?

Write these and any other questions you may have down and bring them with you, along with extra paper and a pen.

How you should represent yourself

Grab your Sunday best, because you need to dress to impress. It shows you put time and thought into your trip and that you appreciate the coach extending him or herself to you. Dressing nicely is just the tip of the iceberg, though. In an interview with former  UMass Amherst  softball player Bridget Lemire and former Worcester State University  field hockey coach Susie Whelan, both expressed how important it is to represent yourself as best as possible off the field. "Most coaches will look at how you treat your parents, how you talk to other people, and how you talk to your teammates," said Lemire. "It may seem small, but it's a very important thing." Whelan added that it is crucially important to be polite. Finally, when your trip is over and you're back home, the first thing you need to do is write a thank-you note to the coach and your host player(s) to express your gratitude for their help and for sharing their time to make you feel at home.

Related: 6 Secrets You Need to Know For a Great Campus Visit

And why you need to behave

Let's face the facts here: you are a senior in high school who has been invited to a college campus for a night or two. Depending on who your lovely host is, it is very possible that you will be asked to join your new friends for some parties and fun. There is nothing wrong with following them out, but beware of doing everything they do. If a coach finds out that you were drinking or were out past curfew, your future at the college will be over. No exceptions. You know that scholarship you were given? You can kiss that goodbye as well. While it might seem like the "cool" thing to do because you want to fit in, it's not worth your athletic dreams and college future. And if you're still not convinced, check out this official visit horror story  that I'm sure will change your mind.

Related:  Take Your Campus Visit Experience Into Your Own Hands

An official college visit as a student is a heightened experience to the campus visits other students go on. As a student-athlete, you’ll get all the experience of visiting a college plus the added bonus of meeting and getting to know the coach of your desired college sport. Because of this, you want to make sure you’re truly prepare to reap the benefits of every second of your visit. While this may seem intimidating, in the long run, being prepared will mean you’ll enjoy it more. So have fun and make a good first impression—especially if it’s your dream school!

For more advice on making the most of college tours, check out our Campus Visits section, or for more tips on becoming a college athlete, check out our College Athletics section.

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Recruiting tip: everything you need to know about official and unofficial visits, share this article.

The USA TODAY High School Sports Recruiting Tips are provided by our recruiting partner,   Playced.com .

Visiting the campus of the colleges you are most interested in is a critical step in the recruiting process. There is no better way to decide which college environment is best for you. When it comes to the college athletic recruiting process, there are two types of college visits: official visits and unofficial visits. If you want to play your sport in college, you need to know the difference between the two and you need to know how to maximize each. Here’s the definition of an official and unofficial visit and some advice on how to make the most of both.

The difference between official and unofficial visits

An official visit is any visit to a college that is offered and paid for by the university. You and your parents will have your transportation to and from the college paid for. Also paid for by the college will be your hotel, meals and entertainment expenses. Generally, you will receive three free tickets to that college’s home game the weekend you are in town. Each official visit can last up to 48 hours. You are only allowed 5 official visits at the Division I and II levels.

The simple definition of an unofficial visit is anytime you (or you and your parents) visit a college and your parents foot the bill. You can take as many unofficial visits as you like. Unofficial visits to colleges in which you have an interest are a great idea and can start as early as you like.

How to make the most of your college visits

You need to be strategic with your all college visits. If you’re lucky enough to be asked on a few official visits, then you’re most likely a top prospect for those schools. Enjoy the experience and be proud of your accomplishment. That said, you should only take official visits to the schools you are truly interested in. Don’t waste a coach’s time or the school’s money unless you are truly interested. An official visit should not be viewed as a free three-day vacation.

If you’re scheduling some unofficial visits, make sure the programs are a match for your abilities and you have a genuine interest in the college. Then, alert the college coach that you will be on campus and if the weekend is not during a dead period then perhaps a short meeting might be possible.

Here are some things you should consider doing on your visit (official or unofficial) that you might otherwise overlook:

• Meet with the academic advisor
• Sit in on a class to be sure you are comfortable with the classroom atmosphere
• Meet and talk with team members
• Watch the team play or practice

When you go to a college campus whether the visit is official or unofficial, soak it all in. Visit the student union. Talk with students about college life. Get a real feel for the atmosphere. Your college decision isn’t a four-year decision, it’s a forty-year decision.

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College Visits as a Student Athlete: What You Need to Know about Official and Unofficial Visits

It can be hard to understand the rules around official and unofficial visits when it comes to choosing a college as a student-athlete. Throw in the NCAA recruiting calendar into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for confusion! Let’s break it down by the basics.

Student athletes interested in playing sports in college at Division 1, 2, or 3 schools have two options when it comes to campus tours. Official visits are offers explicitly extended by coaches to tour the program and determine if the student and the school are a good fit for each other. Coaches may still play a role in organizing unofficial visits, but students and their parents largely set these up for the same reasons.

University visits, both official and unofficial, should place emphasis on the relationship between the athletics program and the prospective student-athlete to determine if it would truly be a strong fit.

The NCAA has rules and bylaws for official visits and unofficial visits. They also have concrete recruiting calendars that vary by sport. The recruiting calendars are made up of contact periods, evaluation periods, quiet periods, and dead periods.

The recruiting calendar also has an impact on when college visits are and aren’t allowed. For example, during the dead periods in Division 1 and Division 2, unofficial campus tours for athletics purposes and official visits are not permitted.

Student athletes looking to set themselves up for success in a university athletics program should prepare by learning the ins and outs of the NCAA recruitment standards as soon as possible.

Official Visits According to the NCAA for Division 1, 2, and 3 Schools

Official visits can be made beginning in August of an athlete’s junior year of high school. The rules and limitations for official visits are as follows:

Division 1 – The NCAA allows student athlete recruits to make five official visits to Division I schools, with only one visit per school.

Division 2 – Official recruiting visits for Division 2 schools are also limited to five visits with only one visit per school. It used to be that student athletes could visit as many Division 2 schools as they wanted. However, a rule change in 2018 limited the number of official visits to 5.

Division 3 – Student athletes can take as many official visits to Division 3 schools as they like. However, like D1 and D2, they can only visit the same school once. Recruiting for Division 3 schools does not have to follow the NCAA recruiting calendar, so more communication between an athletics coach and a student athlete recruit is common.

Invitations for official visits are extended by a university coach specifically for the purpose of recruiting. The biggest difference between official and unofficial visits is the way they are financed.

In an official visit, the college or university may pay for the transportation and lodging for a student athlete and their parents, three meals per day, and three tickets to a home sports event. Official visits can last for up to 48 hours or throughout one weekend, but no longer.

Each program may handle the financial aspect of an official visit differently, for example, paying for lodging but not transportation, providing an on-campus lunch rather than a stipend, etc. However, D1 universities in particular typically pay for all the expenses in an official visit.

Unofficial Visits According to the NCAA for Division 1,2, and 3 Schools

The student athlete and/or their family schedule unofficial visits themselves. There are two ways to go about an unofficial visit:

1. Schedule a campus tour as if the athlete were any other student

2. Reach out to the coach directly and try to schedule a campus tour or meeting with them. The regulations for unofficial visits are as follows:

Division 1 – University athletic departments, including coaches, are not permitted to be involved in a recruit’s unofficial visit before August first of their junior year of high school. Otherwise, there are no regulations involved in unofficial visits to D1 schools.

However, keeping the recruiting calendar in mind when organizing unofficial visits to Division 1 schools is essential. During dead periods, a coach can have absolutely no in-person contact with a prospective student athlete. It would be unwise to schedule an unofficial visit during that time.

Division 2 – Unofficial visits to Division 2 schools are unregulated by the NCAA. Prospective athletes can schedule unofficial visits with D2 athletics departments regardless of age and can speak with the coach on campus.

Division 3 – Unofficial visits to Division 3 schools are also unregulated by the NCAA. Additionally, coaches from Division 3 schools can give verbal scholarship offers at any age, regardless of the NCAA recruiting calendar.

Before reaching out to an athletics coach to arrange an unofficial visit, there are a few things to consider. The current relationship between the student-athlete and the coach is the first to consider. Unofficial visits, especially to D1 schools, are easier to arrange if the coach is already aware of who you are. The student-athlete should also have their academic and sports information readily available to be viewed by the coach.

What to Expect on a Campus Tour for College Athletics

While unofficial visits and official visits can mean very different things, the activities that take place during them are basically the same.

Both aim to determine whether the athlete and the program are a good fit for each other. However, it is more common for students to receive verbal offers and scholarship offers on official visits. Here are common activities that occur in both official and unofficial visits:

• A guided tour of the campus grounds and buildings, including department buildings, the mess hall, and the library
• An appointment with an academic advisor to discuss your major, academic goals, potential scholarship opportunities, and campus culture
• A tour of the housing options available to you as a student
• A meal on-campus at the dining hall
• Sitting in on a class and meeting some professors from your intended major(s)

The following activities are more likely on official visits but can also occur on unofficial visits with coaches:

• Meeting the training staff
• Attending a practice and meeting the team
• A behind-the-scenes tour of athletics facilities
• Attending a home sports game

These activities give prospective recruits an idea about what life is like on campus. Although the goal of every recruit is to play sports at their dream college or university, it’s important that it feels like home to them. Imagine yourself on the campus within the next year or two, and see how you feel!

Ana-Marcela joined the Colleges of Distinction team as an intern in 2018. Over the years, she has transitioned from intern to outreach associate, and now leads the team’s marketing and digital strategy efforts. Ana-Marcela coordinates social media and written content that helps students find the answers they need at every step of their college journey. She also led the research and development of the newest recognition, Military Support, which highlights institutions that dedicate resources to the service of service members and veterans of the military.  Ana -Marcela is a native Austinite and she earned her Bachelor’s in English Literature from St. Edward’s University. She spends her free time hiking the greenbelt, salsa dancing, cruising the aisles of half price books, and cuddling her cats.

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How to Ace Your College Visit – Mastering the Official and Unofficial Visit

Updated on Aug 8, 2023

For prospective college athletes, choosing a college can be similar to buying a car… you first begin with a list of options, do research to narrow down the list, and visit in person to find the best fit. 

For student-athletes looking to play college sports at an NCAA school, completing virtual campus tours and visiting campuses close to home can help narrow down the list of colleges before deciding on which campuses to put on your visit list.

The NCAA allows high school student-athletes to meet with the coaches and teams on campus, but there are limitations. In some cases, college coaches will pay for your transportation to the campus, as well as accommodations for an overnight stay (known as an official recruiting visit), while other times your family pays (unofficial visit). 

The timing of allowable unofficial and official visits varies based on the sport played, your year in high school, whether the school is NCAA Division I (DI) or Division II (DII), and the specific time period for your sport’s recruiting calendar. The recruiting calendar generally allows unofficial visits to occur earlier than official visits. 

Failure to follow the rules could result in a violation of the coach (and you!) receiving penalties, and it is important for recruits to familiarize themselves with the NCAA’s sport and division-specific recruiting calendars .

Whether you are a high school female basketball player (who is eligible to take an unofficial visit the moment you enter the 9th grade) or a high school male baseball player (who must wait until September of your junior year to visit a college campus) — you want to be ready. 

Let’s plan ahead and get you ready for your visit long before you pack your bags and jump in the car. Buckle up!

The first thing we need to do is set expectations. Most college programs have small recruiting budgets and may not be able to pay for official visits, cutting-edge athletic facilities, or expensive recruit photo shoots. You must look past the superficial expectations and consider the most important factors when choosing a college: academic fit, campus fit, and athletic fit . 

What is the Difference Between Official and Unofficial Visits?

What is an official visit.

Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or their parents that is paid for by the school. Before taking an official visit, a recruit must provide the college with their high school transcript and complete registration for a Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center .

Beginning July 1st, 2023, student-athletes looking to compete at an NCAA Division I school are now allowed to take an unlimited number of official visits to NCAA institutions. It’s important to note that each school allows only one official visit per student-athlete, unless there’s a change in head coach after their first visit, allowing them to go on a second official visit. However, in the case of men’s basketball, a second visit is only permissible if it falls in a different academic year.

Additionally, all prospective DI and DII recruits must be placed on each school’s Institutional Request List (IRL) in order to take their official campus visit, receive an athletic scholarship, or sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) .

What is an Unofficial Visit?

College campus visit paid for by student-athletes or their parents is considered an unofficial visit and an unlimited number of unofficial visits are allowed regardless of division level or sport.

Let’s dive deeper into the visit details…

Unofficial visits can be initiated by a prospective student-athlete, as well as the college coaching staff who can suggest dates and times to visit the campus – taking into account the NCAA rules regarding quiet and dead periods . Taking an unofficial visit is best when a college coach is able to meet with you on campus and high school student-athletes are allowed to take as many unofficial visits as they wish.

Official visits are typically more structured and coaches may have a list of dates reserved for official recruit visits. Scheduling and expenses (including travel, meals, and lodging) for official visits are always arranged by the college coaches. During your visit, you will either stay with your family at a hotel or in a dorm with a student-athlete host while your family stays in a hotel.

Official visits may not last longer than a two-night stay.

Honest Insight : If allowed, choose visit dates that overlap weekdays with weekends. Weekday visits typically allow you to attend a class and give you the chance to see how student-athletes balance their weekday routine of class, practice, study hall, and strength workouts – while also allowing you to experience the campus on a weekend.

Regardless of the visit type you choose to take, it is important to plan ahead and give yourself (and the college coach) ample time to create the best college visit. Take into consideration that the team may be traveling during your (unofficial) visit, or the coach may only have a small window of time to meet with you. Having an organized plan for visits and communicating clearly will help in the recruiting process. 

Now that you understand the difference between official and unofficial visits, let’s start planning your trip!

What to Know Before Your College Visit

As you narrow down the list of potential schools, you should research each school using free online resources, such as virtual campus tours and online tuition calculators. You don’t want to waste invaluable time during your visit seeking answers that you can find online. Make sure to research the following questions in advance of your visit:

• Research the athletic department – what conference do they compete in? Are their other sports programs successful?
• Research the team – do they compete nationally or regionally? Where are the players from? What are the team members majoring in? How long has the coach been there and do they have a contract with an expiration date?
• Research the school – have they cut sports recently? Are they adding sports? 

Your campus visit should serve to strengthen your interest in the school and provide you with a sense of campus life. It will also give an insight into the team atmosphere and what it is like to be a student-athlete at that school.

Before your visit, you should think through the conversations you might have at the school to how to prepare for your visits and show your best self when talking with a school’s coaching staff.

You should also prioritize and plan out your visits by listening to each response from a coach during your pre-visit conversations. Do they have a recruiting timeline in mind? Are they hoping you will commit during your visit or shortly after? How many scholarships are available? Do they only have one scholarship, but are having multiple recruits visit the campus? All of these are things that you should pay attention to. Waiting too long to schedule a visit or delaying your final decision after you’ve visited the campus can result in missed opportunities.

Whether you’re traveling to campus during an unofficial or official visit, you should request an itinerary and ask if you’d like something to be added. If you want to do undergraduate research while in college, ask to see a lab. If you are curious about the surrounding community, ask for meal options off-campus. If you have specific physical, learning, or social/emotional needs, ask to meet with professionals on campus while you are there. These are all items that are difficult to schedule once you’re on campus, but if you request them ahead of time, a school should be able to accommodate your needs.

Some sports have recruiting cultures where students will verbally commit after an unofficial visit, long before they are able to schedule an official visit or sign a National Letter of Intent .

Honest Insight : Make sure you are 100% confident in your school choice! The more research you’ve done before your visit, the more prepared you’ll be to decide.

What to Pack for Your College Visit

With an itinerary in hand, you’ll be able to plan what you will need to pack for your recruiting visit. Comfortable walking shoes are key as you will likely be walking the campus for hours and you want to be comfortable. Are you joining the coaches at a nice restaurant? Pack restaurant-appropriate clothes. Are you meeting with the Athletic Director or Dean of Admissions? Make sure to pack business casual clothes for a professional impression. Will you be invited to train with the team? Add athletic training clothes and shoes to your bag.

What to Expect During Your College Visit

You’re on campus! Now is the time to open your eyes and ears to take it all in! Remember, you are recruiting the coaches and college just as much as they are recruiting you. Can you see yourself on campus? Are you ready for the climate? Is it close enough to home or a nearby airport or train station? While you are checking all of these things out, the Athletic Department and coaching staff will also be evaluating if you will provide value to their campus/program. Conduct yourself in a way that would make your family and high school coaches proud.

Your official visit should ALWAYS include one-on-one time with the coaching staff where the coaches should be honest about their commitment to you. Are you expected to make a decision by a certain date? Is an athletic scholarship offer on the table? Would a scholarship be a dollar amount or will it be a percentage of your total bill?

During your visit, make sure to speak about your academic needs and make sure you meet with an Academic Advisor to further understand the expectations for the student-athletes at the school.

Academic preparedness carries a lot of weight in the recruiting process – the academic advisor’s professional opinion of your academic ability could weigh heavily in a coach’s recruiting decision. Even if you only have a short time with the academic advisor, make it count! It’s important for the academic advisor to see how you answer questions and speak about your own academic needs and goals. 

Honest Insight : The best recruiting visit, from an academic advisor’s perspective, is one in which the parent or coach allows the student and advisor to get to know each other. This time is crucial in two ways – first, the academic advisor must learn how to best support the student-athlete, and second, this is a crucial time for the student-athlete to learn about the academic expectations of that school. Is study hall mandatory? Do they check attendance at class and what are the repercussions for missing class? Will tutoring be required or is it optional, or even offered at all?

Be sure to have your Honest Game CARE® (College Athletic Report on Eligibility) or a high school transcript on hand during your visit. Having a plan will show that you are aware of what you will need to complete in your final semesters of high school and that you take your academic eligibility seriously .

While you’re busy picturing yourself as a student-athlete on the team, remember you will also be a member of the campus community one day. What would it be like if you couldn’t play sports? Eat in the cafeteria, stay in the dorms (or at least visit the dorms if the official visit has you staying in a hotel near campus), and look for events happening on campus to get a good understanding of campus life. 

You also want to observe coach/player interactions. 

If you are lucky enough to stay longer than a morning or afternoon, you’ll get a good sense of how the team interacts with each other, and how they feel about their coaching staff. These moments with the “host” athletes will help solidify your awareness of the culture and can often be one of the most important factors when deciding on schools. It is important to consider how the team interacts with each other, their coaches and with professors.

Wondering what you should ask current players during your visit? To get you started, here are a few sample questions to ask your host or players on the team:

• What does a typical day look like?
• How do you manage balancing classes with practice?
• How do professors react when you have to miss class due to traveling or games?
• Do the athletes do workouts together during the offseason?
• Are you close with other athletic teams? Are there opportunities to meet other athletes?
• Do you live with teammates, with athletes in other sports, or is it randomly selected?
• What is your favorite thing about the school?
• If you could do it all over again, would you choose this university?
• Any advice for me?

Coaches try to incorporate social activities into a recruiting visit, away from the athletic department and sports facilities, to give you a chance to get to know the team, and for them to get to know you. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and making good choices while on your recruiting visit is a wise decision. Follow the rules set forth by the NCAA   and hold yourself accountable to team and campus rules. One bad choice on a recruiting visit could cost you your collegiate athletic opportunities – not only at the school but at other schools. Coaches and players talk, and news can travel quickly. 

What to Do After Your College Visit

Once you leave campus and are able to sit back and reflect, make a pros and cons list while it’s fresh in your mind. Did you like the team? What if you couldn’t play sports anymore – would you want to stay at the school? Did the coaching staff talk about you using a redshirt year and how did that make you feel? 

What you need to remember is a visit is just that, a visit. It’s a moment in time when you get to experience all that the team and school want to show you. However, that may not be the case every day for the next four years. Think about life on campus outside of the recruiting dinner with coaches – that won’t be an everyday occurrence once you’re a member of the team. Maybe you visited on a warm summer day but winter in the region is typically snowy and very cold. Think about life on campus the other 363 days of the year.

Choosing a college may be a family decision for you. Have open and honest conversations with those in your support circle to help you make your college decision. If you are used to your family being at every game, will you be upset if you are going to a college far from home? Do you have the financial ability to fly home or take the train during breaks if your sport allows, or will you remain on campus? Are others on the team in the same situation? Do they go to teammates’ homes for holidays?

Honest Insight: One of the most important steps you can take after your visit is to thank the coaching staff with an email or a handwritten note, as they took time out of their schedule and possibly money out of their budget to host your visit. 

If you have decided to cross the school off your list of possibilities, make sure to tell the coaching staff as soon as possible. They most certainly have other recruits waiting on your decision and telling them your plans early is the right thing to do. 

Once you have committed to a school, you should email and/or call the programs that have scheduled future visits letting them know you’ve made your decision.

Do not have your family or high school coach do this for you. These are hard conversations but it’s always best to be upfront and open about your plan. You never want to burn bridges on the recruiting trail… one day you may decide to transfer to one of the schools you previously visited.

Have more questions about the recruiting visit process? Honest Game Counselors are available to provide one-on-one assistance to support student-athletes in navigating post-secondary opportunities athletically and academically. Schedule a time to meet virtually with our experts .

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Why Go On An Official Visit Before Committing?

Receiving an invitation to visit a university is a milestone in your recruiting process and a truly great opportunity to meet the coaching staff and experience the atmosphere on campus. An opportunity of getting a step closer to decide for yourself whether that could be the right place for your time as a student athlete. It is an excellent opportunity, yes, but you should understand that it is primarily a strong signal sent by the coach(es), who seem to have you listed very high up on their recruiting list. This edition of our Friday Scholarship Guide will be all about your potential official or unofficial visit.

Technology has definitely changed the way recruiting is being done quite a bit throughout the last decades. You are able to research schools, look up their social media channels, or check out some of their truly awesome videos that they have on their Youtube channels. You are able to talk to coaches on the phone, but even more so, you have the chance to connect with them through video calls, such as Skype or Facetime. That certainly gets coaches and you very far, but does it make a meeting in person redundant? Most certainly not. Meeting somebody in person, who is going to be pretty central in your life and to your athletic development for four years, offers invaluable insights. Whatever program you may commit to in the end, going on a visit to meet coaches and see the campus make your decision a better decision .

Let's have a look at why you should go on a visit if offered the chance:

• Signal Accepting an invitation to pay the campus a visit is your signal that you take the coaches' interest (and perhaps offer) seriously. They invest time and resources in convincing you that their college program is the most attractive one and it's up to you to show that you are willing to invest your time also.
• Collect insights on coach/team Say, you've been communicating with assistant and head coaches at a school; messaging back and forth, talking on the phone, but without any physical meeting yet. You certainly have collected a lot of information about the school, the athletic department, the team or its opponents - all facts, which matter a huge deal. Now, you can definitely make a very good decision based on all that. But at the end of the day your relationship with coaches, you getting along with their coaching style and personality matters to the same extent - to those who have their eyes set on a pro career, it matters the most! Visiting your top schools allows you to get a sense of what feels right: putting all of the school's characteristics and the chemistry with the coaching staff together.
• Know what to expect After a visit you also know what to expect: Simple things, such as the dorm rooms? What's the food like? Where am I going to be lifting weights and could I see myself pulling all-nighters in the library before midterms? Perhaps you don't like the atmosphere at one school, but you love the neighbourhood at another one ...

Official Visit vs. Unofficial Visit

The NCAA regulates the definition of a visit as well as the number of visits you are allowed to go on. The really important difference here is whether it is an official or unofficial visit. If a school invites you on an official visit, they may cover costs in relation with your trip:

• Transportation (flights)
• Accommodation
• Tickets to sports events on campus

You are allowed to go on a maximum of 5 official visits on the Division I and Division II level, but you are able to plan an unlimited number of unofficial visits. The schools' compliance departments and coaching staff will typically prepare your visit, which aims at giving you the best possible impression of the school! While the schools' staff take care of the paperwork, you can be instrumental and helpful in providing certain things upfront or having them ready. More about that in a little bit.

Worried About Recruiting Rules?

It's definitely good for you to be aware that there are rules set by the collegiate sports governing bodies. The recruiting coaches, as well as the schools' compliance departments will do everything they are required to, in order to obey the rules. Here are some of the most important ones:

• One really important rule is the timing of such an official visit. You may not go on an official visit before August 1 (NCAA D-I), June 15 (NCAA D-II) or January 1 (NCAA D-III) of your junior year . (Check out an older blog article about when to start your recruiting process here )
• Your official visit may not last longer than 48 hours .
• One school - one official visit .
• A maximum of 5 official visits on NCAA D-I and D-II level .
• Unlimited number of official visits in NCAA D-III.
• Unlimited number of unofficial visits .

Now the kind of documentation the schools would require prior to your arrival are essentially the following:

• A copy of your academic test scores (SAT or ACT)
• Your grade transcripts
• Your NCAA Eligibility ID

Being aware of the academic test score requirement is especially important, as the low number of test dates throughout the year may put you in a position where your planned visit may have to be defined as an unofficial visit, with the total cost of the trip definitely being incurred by you.

What Will I Be Doing On A Visit?

48 hours (on official visits) is not a whole lot of time, but generally long enough to get a comprehensive impression of the campus, campus life, dorms, class rooms, staff and athletic department. There's certainly a difference with regards to that in terms of size of the school, but the coaching staff will usually help you make the most out of it no matter the size of the school. Now depending on the timing of the visit and the kind of things the coaches want to emphasize, your visit could look very different from your visit at another school. Here are a few things that are typically part of any visit:

• Meeting with the coach(es) If not, you haven't planned/coordinated when to visit well!
• Meeting the team
• Seeing the dorm rooms
• Eating in the cafeteria
• Meeting a school counselor
• Joining to a class

The timing is important to experience two things: you definitely want to meet the coaches in person (at least in most cases) and you definitely want to make sure students are "on campus". Any day between Monday to Friday is typically a good day, as everyone is heading to classes. On the other hand, try to avoid to only be on campus Saturday or Sunday mornings when many of the students try to catch up with some sleep! Another question we often receive from athletes is: travelling alone or with mum and dad? There are advantages and disadvantages with both. If you go alone, you will definitely be more out of your comfort zone, speaking up for yourself and showing your true personality. If you go with your parent, it's a bit easier to hide and let them do the talking; especially if you're more the introverted type. No matter what you decide for, coaches will observe you and try to get a better grasp of you as a person. Do you really fit into the team, the culture they are maintaining or trying to build? Can you contribute to the success of the team?

Visiting schools helps you reduce the likelihood of experiencing game-changing surprises once you start out with your freshman year in college. And that's something that can really put your mind at ease going into senior year.

Work towards getting invitations to go on visits and make sure to enjoy your visit. It's a memorable experience no matter which school you decide for in the end.

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What is an Official Visit?

According to the NCAA, an official visit is when a prospective student-athlete visits a college campus paid for by the school. This includes travel/transportation to and from the school, room, meals, and entertainment expenses (three admissions to a home game). However, the school is not allowed to pay for your parents’ visit too. All expenses are for the student-athlete. Prospective student-athletes are only allowed to take five official visits total to different colleges.

Official visits occur during a student-athlete’s senior year. If a coach hasn’t offered you an official visit, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested, but you should always discuss this with the coach before you take a trip on your own there. Some schools don’t have large enough recruiting budgets to host many prospective athletes.

If you can afford it on your own (an unofficial visit), making a visit to the school is an important part of choosing what college you want to attend. As long as you have open communication with the college coach , you should know whether making a visit to the school will be beneficial to you and to the coach.

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Athletic Campus Visits: Unofficial Visits (part 1/2)

by Renee Lopez | Campus Visits , Recruiting tips

Understanding UNOFFICIAL Visits

If you are seriously interested in pursuing your sport in college, it is highly recommended to visit a lot of college campuses early in your high school career. It allows you to compare campus facilities, gain a better understanding of the admissions process, meet with various faculty in your potential academic major(s), and see up-close the demands of being a college student.

Being a student-athlete creates the need for a whole other level of perspective in evaluating a college. As a recruiting educator who regularly helps families with the college recruiting process through individual and group consulting, I am often approached after a seminar at a club or high school. Usually it is a family who is struggling to make a decision and they are looking for specific criteria to help them in differentiating between a vast amount of opportunities. I always ask if they have done a campus visit to compare and contrast. The majority who are so distraught in making a decision, have only looked at websites and financial numbers. I always recommend making a campus visit to as many schools possible.

In order to help them while on campus (and I get this question so often), I wrote a blog a few months back regarding The 13 Questions To Ask A College Coach to help during a campus visit. Also, if you have not already, I would highly recommend you read our 3 Part blog series on committing to a college. ( Part 1: Prior to Committing , Part 2: During Signing , and Part 3: Steps to Take After Signing ).

For this current 2 part series, I will address the two typical types of athletic campus visits: unofficial and official. This week, we will focus on the unofficial visit, as it is the most popular of the two, especially early on in the search process. Go here to read Part 2. I will primarily focus on NCAA rules for these visits at the DI and DII levels. (Please note that NCAA D3, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA all have different rules when it comes to campus visits, so it is best to check with the governing body of the prospective college).

Who Pays for The Unofficial Visit?

An unofficial visit to a college by a prospective student-athlete is a visit made at the prospective student-athlete’s own expense.

How Many Unofficial Visits Can I Do To A Specific Campus?

Although there are some restrictions for some sports in terms of timing in your high school career for unofficial visits (such as men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, lacrosse, wrestling, and with some recent legislation changes, softball), typically you can do an unlimited number of unofficial visits. It is important to note that you cannot do an unofficial visit during any dead periods which vary in timing by sport. I would suggest checking the NCAA website for recruiting calendars that describe the specifics for each sport.

How Many Unofficial Visits Can I Do Overall?

There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits you can take to various campuses. Again, you may not do the visits during dead periods for your sport. It is also important to understand that most sports (with specific recruiting class restrictions on the sports mentioned above), allow you to speak with coaching staff while on campus. Again, there is some recent legislation which will be coming down for NCAA Division I specifically, that will impact this for SOME sports.

What Should I Bring With Me On An Unofficial Visit?

I would recommend that you print off a copy of the campus map. I would encourage you to ask admissions, prior to traveling to campus, of the best location for parking when you first arrive. Parking on many college campuses can be very difficult, especially when you are uncertain of your surroundings.

I would also recommend bringing a copy of your recent transcripts, test scores, a 1-page player profile/resume including your NCAA Eligibility Center ID number, any letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials demonstrating why they should consider you. It is imperative that you spend a lot of time on the college website PRIOR to your visit, to familiarize yourself with the college structure, campus layout, and offices you wish to meet with during your visit.

You should also have a list of questions with you to ask admissions, current students, faculty, and athletic staff. As I mentioned above, if you are able to meet with a coach within NCAA rules, I have prepared a set of 13 questions for you to ask a coach in our recent blog here .

What Should I Wear On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

I would encourage you to think “business casual”. I would recommend a nice button-down shirt (tucked-in) and dress pants for men. For women, I would recommend a casual skirt or dress pants and nice blouse or sweater. I would also encourage you to dress in layers, as many campus buildings have the air conditioning on high when it is summer and vice versa, during the winter months.

Will The School Pay For Anything While I Am On Campus?

The college is very limited in what they are allowed to do while you are on campus in terms of covering your expenses. They may be able to transport you to view practice facilities and their home competition facilities. They are allowed to pick up one meal in the on-campus dining facility or at a local restaurant for the prospective student-athlete and relatives/legal guardians of the student-athlete. I highly recommend that you do not have any expectations of them covering payments of anything for you while on campus.

Can I Stay Overnight in the Residence Halls On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

The prospective student-athlete may stay in an enrolled student-athlete’s dorm if they pay the going rate for regular (non-athletic) prospective students for such lodging. At a majority of colleges, this is complimentary, but some will charge, so it is important to ask. You should ask this when you are setting up the unofficial visit, not just the day of the visit.

What Will I Be Able to Do On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

On most colleges, you may take a campus tour, meet with the admissions and financial aid, tour residence halls, eat in the dining facilities, and meet with faculty in your desired academic major (s). Basically, anything that a “regular” prospective student would do in evaluating a college, is typically allowed.

What About Meeting With The Coaching Staff?

Again, it does depend on your sport. I would inquire, (but do not assume) that a coach has time to meet with you, especially on competition days and if it was not pre-planned. Insider tip: College coaches do NOT like it when you just show up unannounced in their office (Instead, try to arrange through admissions or your high school/club coach a week or two out from the visit) . With hundreds of recruits that email college coach each month, they also want to refresh their memory of which recruit you are in terms of talent, academics, and your social media prior to having a conversation with you. Also, they typically had a full day planned and you just altered their schedule. Trust me, setting something up (if the NCAA allows for your sport/graduation year) PRIOR to showing up is highly encouraged.

In addition, I always recommend letting a coach know you are going to be coming to a competition prior to just showing up, if you are looking to have any amount of time with them. Whether they love you as a recruit or do not know a thing about you, it is imperative to understand on competition days, that they may not have a lot of time to spend with you, no matter how far you traveled.

Having been a college coach for 14 years in NCAA DI and II, I will tell you the day of a game is some of the busiest days for a coach, especially the head coach. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes from media interviews, dealing with injuries, coaching staff meetings, and of course, interacting with their current players, administrators, and officials. I would always recommend coming in the day before a competition (versus just the day of a game) to hopefully get a little bit of time with some of the coaching staff.

Also, it is imperative to note that NCAA rules will allow for interactions with coaching staff and sometimes they will not. However, in most sports (other than men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, lacrosse, wrestling, and with some pending legislation a few other sports including softball), you most likely can interact with the coaching staff while on your campus visit provided it is not a dead period. In those specific sports for Division I, there are restrictions based off of the time of year as well as your graduation year, so be sure to check the NCAA website.

Can I Attend A Home Competition? Can I Get Complimentary Tickets?

It is possible, again, depending on your sport, for you to receive some complimentary admissions during an unofficial visit, depending on your graduation year. These are typically not handing over physical tickets, but instead via a pass list at the ticket gate that coaches will put you on. Typically, there are 3 complimentary admissions available for a prospective student-athlete and their parents. If it is a nontraditional family (stepparents, etc), two more complimentary tickets may be offered.

Can I Do A Try-Out or Play With The Team While I Am On Campus?

Try-outs are not allowed at the NCAA Division I level. However, some sports are allowed to do Identification (ID) Camps which would allow you to pay to participate for a camp held on the campus at various times during the year. NCAA Division II programs may do a try-out while you are there, or may not. There are also stipulations for doing try-outs in terms of timelines (when is your official high school season, etc). Tryouts will also require you having a copy of a recent sports physical, including a sickle-cell test. I would not assume you are or are not going to do a try-out when you are visiting a D2 campus. I would ask the coaches if they are looking to do this prior to your traveling.

How Do I Set-Up An Unofficial Visit?

It is recommended you set up an unofficial campus visit through admissions, especially if the college coach cannot directly contact you due to your graduation year recruiting regulations. If a college coach cannot contact you directly, you should utilize your high school or club coach to aid in communication. However, in some sports depending on your graduation year, this may not be permissible.  Depending on the college, they may also utilize their admissions staff to set-up athletic meetings.

However, I would copy the coach on all correspondence, even if they do not respond. Also, make sure that you have already sent the coaching staff a video link so they have seen you play in some capacity prior to the campus visit. Don’t know how to create a video? Check out our blog on creating a video for college coaches here . Finally, remember all of this correspondence should come from the student-athlete, and NOT the parent. Parents, we know you are just trying to help, but it really actually hurts the process. For more info on this, read our blog, “My Student-Athlete Is Soooooooooo Busy…I’ll Just Contact the College Coach For Them!: 3 Reasons Parents Should Not Contact A College Coach” .

I highly recommend you plan out multiple campus visits early on in your high school careers, even if the coaches are not available to meet with you. Being on different types of campuses will definitely give you a different perspective compared to the college brochures and websites. Want to know about Campus Visits? Read part 2 of our series here: OFFICIAL VISITS .

Want some help with the recruiting process? Join some of our 9 Facebook Groups:

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Would you like her to do individual consulting with your family to get an insider’s perspective? Email [email protected] for more details.

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Email [email protected] for more details.

Coach Renee Lopez

As a 17 year coaching veteran, Coach Renee Lopez is a recruiting expert for high school student-athletes. She uses her NCAA Division I, II, and NAIA Head Coaching experience to help families navigate the recruiting process to be identified by college coaches and help them find the right “fit” for playing at the next level. She has produced 3 All-Americans, over 30 All-Conference athletes and Her teams have been honored with awards for team academic accomplishments, sportsmanship, and sports ministry. In addition, Coach Renee Lopez has been named Coach of the Year by her peers.

She presents recruiting seminars across the country, has recently been featured in USA Weekly, with the National Alliance for Youth Sports, on SiriusXM Radio and ESPN Radio. She is the author of the book,   Looking For A FULL RIDE?: An Insider’s Recruiting Guide where she has interviewed over 65 college recruiters across all sports and college levels. In addition, she runs 9 Facebook groups to help facilitate conversations on college recruiting education, coaching education, leadership development, and sports ministry. She is also a certified speaker, trainer and coach for the John Maxwell Team, Jon Gordon Company, 3Dimensional Coaching, and the Positive Coaching Alliance.

She also does private consulting for student-athletes and their families to help in understanding the often daunting process of recruiting. (See one family’s testimonial.) If you are looking for help in the college recruiting process, please email Coach Renee Lopez at [email protected].

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Forest Grove, Hillsboro & Eugene Campuses Closed

Update: Pacific University’s Forest Grove, Hillsboro and Eugene campuses, and all Pacific healthcare clinics, remain closed all day Friday, Jan. 19. More Details

What Does it Mean When a College is Test Optional?

Spend less time on test prep and more time pursuing your passions with test optional college applications. Qualify for scholarships and receive a fast admissions decision without having to stress over standardized tests.

Hit the ground running with Guaranteed Graduate School admission ! Apply and be accepted into advanced programs in healthcare, business, and education as early as your first year on campus.

Not long ago, national standardized tests were one of the most important aspects of many college applications .

However, in recent years, a growing number of schools have become test optional , meaning that they no longer require SAT or ACT scores in order to receive an admissions decision. 

Instead, universities have placed greater emphasis on academic transcripts, interests outside of the classroom and the material contained within the expansive Common App .

By removing the SAT and ACT requirements for college admission, many more students have gained access to higher education who would have otherwise been discouraged from applying.

Test optional college admissions can be confusing, as it is new to many applicants and their families, so let’s break down what it means to apply and how you can still use your test scores if you choose to.

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What Are Test Optional College Applications?

SAT and ACT test scores were historically used to determine a student’s ability to succeed in college, acting as perhaps the largest indicator of their academic abilities.

But in recent years many colleges have come to understand that your strengths and passions exist outside of these standardized tests, and have begun to deprioritize them in admissions.

Most test optional schools, Pacific included, don’t require completion of the ACT or SAT anymore in order to submit your application, and your chances of getting accepted are not impacted by omitting test scores from your admissions materials.

This means that your college journey isn’t derailed by a poor score, freeing you up to pursue your purpose and strengthen your college application with things that highlight your interests.

After all, an SAT score only determines how good you are at taking the SAT, and not the impact you could make upon starting your career and bettering your community.

Is There Anything I Can Do With My SAT or ACT Scores?

While test optional colleges don’t require you to submit your scores, you can still do so if you have already taken either the SAT or ACT and have a result you think will enhance your application.

You might think about submitting your scores if:

You’ve already taken tests for other colleges. Some colleges still require standardized test scores, so you may have them on hand already.

Submitting scores can be done at any time, and not only when you submit your Common App, so retakes are an option for all students.

Your GPA is right at or below the minimum requirement. Much more important than test scores are your GPA and academic transcripts.

If your GPA is at the cusp or just below Pacific’s 3.0 minimum requirement , a high test score can help make up some of that difference and improve your admission chances.

Your test scores are exceptionally high. An average or below-average test score will have no impact on your admissions or scholarship chances.

However, high scoring applicants can create a stronger overall application by including their exceptional scores. 

Connecting with your dedicated admissions counselor is the easiest and fastest way to determine whether or not you should submit your scores to test optional colleges.

Admissions counselors will be able to weigh your results against the rest of your application and let you know if potential test retakes or score inclusion will help your admissions packet in a meaningful way.

Do Colleges Prefer One Standardized Test Over Another?

Generally, colleges do not place special emphasis on either the SAT or ACT, and accept both or either to help support your application.

If you have taken both tests, simply submit whichever score is higher, even if that means using a superscore (average of your best scores from each subject).

If Test Scores Aren’t Required, What Do I Need to Apply?

Colleges that don’t require test scores prioritize other facets of your application to determine your admissions decision. 

Primarily, these include your official academic transcripts and the content pulled from the Common App , including short answer and essay questions.

By using both of those things together, admissions team members can get a holistic view of each student and how their passions will translate to learning valuable skills in the classroom.

Importantly, the individual aspects of your application (including test scores) do not need to be submitted at the same time .

Being able to submit your admissions materials separately means that you can make each part of your application perfect, taking the time you need to craft each piece to best highlight your successes and interests. 

Submitting your Common App as soon as you are ready is the easiest way to ensure you are considered for scholarships and financial aid , which are the most available at the beginning of the admissions process.

How Can I Boost My College Application in Ways Other than Test Scores?

For many, standardized test scores have been a way to supercharge their college applications.

However, as the admissions landscape changes to include a bigger and more diverse applicant pool, what makes a successful application has changed as well.

A few things that colleges look for beyond test scores include:

Demonstrated passions. Curious about engineering ? Tinker with 3D printing. Astronomy ? Join a local stargazing club. Want to be an anthropologist ? Trace your family tree.

Examples of ways you pursue your passions are key to placing students into programs and schools that will enable them to thrive.

A drive to help others. A university education doesn’t just award a degree, but rather prepares students to give back to their communities through the skills they’ve gained.

Demonstrating through the Common App short answer and essay questions how your degree will empower those around you speaks to one of the primary goals of higher education.

Learning outside of the classroom. Taking steps to expand your knowledge through extracurricular activities like clubs, honors societies or through local organizations shows great dedication to following your passions.

Career interest. Whether shadowing experts in fields that interest you or speaking with thought leaders in your community, explaining your readiness to pursue a career and make a difference can speak volumes on a college application.

Have test scores you want to submit? Use Pacific’s SAT code (4601) and ACT code (3488) and send your scores anytime during the application process .

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What Does An Unofficial Visits Mean?

Beginning your freshman year in high school, you may have heard some of your peers talking about unofficial visits to colleges. You might be familiar with the idea of an official visit, but there are nuances between an official and an unofficial visit that may not be so clear to you. While an official visit can be financed by the university, an unofficial visit is a trip to a college campus in which the student pays for all transportation, housing, and meals. While this may be the most obvious difference between these two types of visits, you may be wondering what it actually means to go on an unofficial visit.

The purpose of your unofficial visit depends on your year in high school and the division level that you are recruiting for. As an upperclassmen or any athlete recruiting for Division 2, 3 or NAIA colleges an unofficial visit can lead to a verbal offer. But as an underclassmen recruiting Division 1, visiting a college is a way to show your interest and see if a college is a good fit for you. While called “unofficial,” these visits can be very organized with scheduled itineraries and meetings with coaches and staff.

Unofficial visits can be extremely important in some athlete’s recruiting processes, while for others it can be just a way to get a feel for a college’s campus. This article will help explain the rules around unofficial visits as well as the different situations an athlete may be in when taking an unofficial visit and what each of these situations mean for the student.

The Basics Of Unofficial Visits

While being “unofficial,” these visits still are regulated by the NCAA and it is important to understand the rules before you go on your first unofficial visit. An unofficial visit is any visit that a student finances themselves. Unlike official visits where the college can pay for the athletes meals, transportation, and housing, in unofficial visits the college can only give the student 3 complementary tickets and free transportation to the sporting venue if it is within 30 miles.

How Many Unofficial Visits Can You Go On?: Unlike official visits, you are allowed to go on as many unofficial visits as you want. You can also start going on unofficial visits anytime in your high school career. Colleges also don’t have restrictions on how many athletes they can host on unofficial visits. The only restriction of when you can schedule an unofficial visit is that it can’t be during NCAA regulated “dead periods,” unless you have already signed a National Letter of Intent for that college.

What Happens On An Unofficial Visit: While each college has a different schedule for unofficial visits most include a meeting with the coaching and training staff. You should come prepared to answer questions as well as to ask questions. You will also likely go on a tour of the college campus including dorms, dining halls, and academic buildings, as well as a tour of the athletic facilities. You will also likely meet with an academic advisor and attend a home sporting event.

When Can I Expect To Get An Offer?: The goal of an unofficial visit is to hopefully receive a verbal offer. Unofficial visits used to be a way for athletes to receive verbal offers early in their high school career. However, with changes to NCAA rules, athletes are only allowed to start having recruiting conversations with coaches during unofficial visits to Division 1 colleges once they are a junior in high school.

Even though you may not be allowed to have a recruiting conversation with coaches when you take an unofficial visit as an underclassmen, you should still visit colleges you are interested in during this time. Taking an unofficial visit shows that you are interested in the college and helps you figure out if the college is a right fit for you.

The Goal Of Your Unofficial Visit

Depending on your year in high school and the division you are recruiting into, there are different goals or purposes for your unofficial visit. This is because of the NCAA rules that prohibit underclassmen from having recruiting conversations with Division 1 coaches. It is important to go into your unofficial visit knowing what to expect and what you want to get out of your time visiting.

If You Are An Underclassmen Recruiting D1: As an underclassmen visiting a Division 1 college you are restricted from going on an unofficial visit in the traditional sense. This means you cannot meet to talk with coaches but you can still receive free tickets to an athletic competition. However, you can and should still visit the colleges you are interested in by taking a regular admissions tour. This will help you get a feel for the campus and evaluate if you would enjoy going to that college.

If You Are An Upperclassmen Recruiting D1: As an upperclassmen taking an unofficial visit to a Division 1 school your end goal is to secure a verbal offer. Some coaches may give verbal offers at the end of the visit, while some take more time and may contact you later. Thus, it is important to remain patient and keep up communication with coaches.

If You Are Recruiting D2, D3, Or NAIA: There are no restrictions about when you can take an unofficial visit to a Division 2, 3, or NAIA college. Thus, use this to your advantage to start meeting with coaches early on in your high school career.

It is important to remember that colleges also host athletes for official visits. Thus, if you are going on an unofficial visit you likely are not at the very top of their recruiting list as they likely host the athletes they are most interested in for official visits. However, each college is also restricted to only hosting a certain amount of official visits. Thus, just because you are going on an unofficial visit does not mean you won’t receive an offer as coaches can have more scholarship spots than they have official visits

Things To Keep In Mind

Reach Out To Coaches: To arrange an unofficial visit, it is your responsibility to reach out to coaches. While some college coaches may contact you about coming for an unofficial visit, it is usually the athlete that contacts the coach. Before calling or emailing coaches of colleges that you want to visit, find a few days or weekends that work best for you and try to schedule visits of colleges that are close by within the same time period. It may seem daunting to email or call a college coach about going on an unofficial visit, but coaches are used to receiving these messages and should respond respectfully.

Reaching Out To The Right Coaches: You should reach out to coaches about going on unofficial visits only if you have been in communication with them. Coaches will likely not accept your request for an unofficial visit if it is the first email they have ever received from you. Ensure that they have seen your highlight video and that the coach has shown prior interest before asking to go on an unofficial visit to their campus.

Be Yourself: It is extremely important to be honest and transparent on your unofficial visits. You want the coach to understand where you are in the recruiting process. It is also important to be yourself. This will help the coach to gain an accurate understanding of who you are and help you evaluate if you are a good fit for that program.

Write A Thank You Note: Many athletes forget to write a thank you note to coaches after an unofficial visit, but it can be extremely beneficial. Sending a personalized thank you note shows your interest in the college and your commitment to keep up communication with the coach.

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