Hey folks. Several of my high school bbs have been asking me for advice on how to go about becoming division 1 runners recently, so I figured I might as well just compile it all here. Sorry if you're not a high school distance runner between the ages of 14 and 18 so this post has no relevance to you.
First things first: If you can, decide early on whether or not you want to pursue collegiate running. The earlier you can get on the process of recruiting, meeting with coaches, and looking into different programs, the better your chances will be of a) Having the time to work down your times and figure out which events will be the best to focus on and give you the best shot and reaching the collegiate level and b) Getting into your ideal program. If you have a list of top-ten programs to consider by the beginning of your junior year, I'd say you're off to a good start. Junior year is around the time that colleges will really start considering your performances.
Don't be afraid to get in touch with coaches. At the beginning of my junior year, one of my coaches put me in touch with the coaching staff at Montana State, and another coach asked for my top 15-20 college choices so that he could email them my credentials and inform them I was interested. The sooner you make it clear to the coaches you are interested, the more likely it is that they will be able to set aside scholarship money for you. Don't be afraid to email back and forth with the coaches-Keep them updated on your performances, and find out if their type of training would be a good fit for you if you are seriously interested.
Another aspect to bear in mind if you want to run D1: Grades. Even though people always emphasize the student in student-athlete, many of the athletes I knew in high school who were looked into the next level didn't think grades would be all that important in the recruiting process. Although you don't need to have a perfect GPA, colleges don't exactly love to see a 2.0 GPA because it means that more of your financial aid will have to come from athletics, since you won't qualify for as much academic funding.
Going into your senior year, possibly the most important date for recruits to remember is July 1. This is the first day that coaches can call you or go on a home visit. Basically, you are going to feel like a secretary and you'll probably get a lot of calls from unfamiliar numbers until you sign your letter of intent. If a coach has expressed interest in coming on a home visit or giving you a call, I would definitely recommend going through with that before committing to anything bigger, like an official visit, because it allows you to get to know the coach a little better than you might over email. At this point, try to narrow down your choices to a top five, as you're only allowed to go on five official visits. (Narrow it down even more if you can, because visits can get a little exhausting and they take a lot of time away from school). Be realistic when considering schools and planning visits. If you want to run at a school that is lower altitude and is within driving distance of the ocean, don't schedule a visit with a school in the Mountain West region just because you heard they get a sick gear pack or you want to see the area. If you know you wouldn't actually want to spend the next 4-5 years of your life there, be considerate to the coach and don't schedule the visit. Also, plan your visits carefully. I took my final visit the day after my state meet, and I was exhausted the whole weekend. It was still a good visit, but I definitely didn't get out and do as much as I would have had I scheduled it for a different weekend.
When you take your visits, you are going to be doing essentially the same thing every time, so it may get a bit redundant after the third or fourth. Typically, the coaches will arrange for one of the members of the team to show you around campus, take you to meetings, and introduce you to the team. You will meet with the head of your academic department (or university studies, if you are undecided), and the academic director for student athletes, as well as take a tour of the athletic facilities. You will usually close the visit by meeting with the head coach, so be prepared with any questions you have about the program or university.
There are two signing periods for track athletes: One in November and one in April. If you have made your decision by November and don't need/want any additional financial aid, I would highly recommend signing in this period because it relieves a great deal of pressure and allows you to focus on competing for the remainder of your senior year. However, if you feel you can improve your times and gain more aid, it could be worth waiting, just be aware that it could also hold additional risk.
Either way, don't forget to enjoy the whole process!
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