Two kinds of visits
Families often hear the words before anyone explains them. Here's the plain version.
Unofficial visit
• Your family pays for travel, meals and lodging.
• They can usually happen earlier and more often.
• The coach may still meet with you, give you a tour and talk about the program.
• It's one of the best ways to show real interest in a school.
Official visit
• The college pays for some or all of the trip.
• Timing and limits depend on your sport and division.
• It usually means the staff is seriously considering you.
An unofficial visit tells a coach you're serious. An official visit tells you they are.
Which one matters more?
Both. Unofficial visits are how many relationships start. You see the campus, meet the staff, and give them a reason to keep you on their list. Official visits usually come later, when both sides are getting serious.
Before any visit
• Email the coach ahead of time so the staff knows you're coming.
• Ask whether they'll have time to meet.
• Make a short list of questions (see What to Ask on a College Visit).
Instead of
"We're going to be on campus this weekend, can we stop by?"
Say this
"Our family is planning to visit campus on [date]. Would your staff have 20 minutes to meet? I'd love to learn how you'd see me fitting into the program."
The move
Pick one school you're talking to and ask about an unofficial visit this season. It's the fastest way to learn if the fit is real, for both of you.
Keep reading
Recruiting rules that matter here
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