When Should College Recruiting Start

AREN Common Recruiting Questions Library

When Should High School Athletes Start the College Recruiting Process?

Short Answer:

Most high school athletes should start learning about the process as a freshman or sophomore. That does not mean they need to actively recruit themselves that early. Learn how the process works, understand the timeline for your sport and level, and focus on development so you're prepared when genuine recruiting opportunities begin.

That could be as easy as asking the older players in the program, especially ones that have gone through it. "How much are you on X?" "Did you fill out a bunch of questionnaires?"

Long Answer: There is no single recruiting timeline that applies to every athlete.

Are you playing Varsity as a Freshman or Sophomore? The answer to that question starts your journey a little earlier or potentially directs you on a development first path.
The process can involve a lot of time and money and are you sure you want to jeopardize both chasing attention? Patience can be a very difficult process, but in our experience, the players that have focused on development when the attention did not come early or organically have created the best opportunities at the end.

AREN Information

Recruiting Consultation

Attention: High School Recruits & Families

How to Get Recruited - 101

Follow these 5 simple lesson plans to take control of your recruiting process today!

What You'll Learn in the How to Get Recruited - 101 Lesson Plan:

What steps you need to take and when to take them.
The role of social media and technology.
What are offers and what do you need to know about them.

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How to Get Recruited - 101

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How to Get Recruited - 101

AREN was designed to educate everyone involved in the athletic recruiting process about the critical steps you need to be aware of from start to finish. From the coach and what they need to do to properly guide their student athletes, to the parents who want to know where to start and or how much to invest in the process and, of course, the student athlete, who needs to know what they should focus on and when.

Along with education, AREN LLC is committed to empowering the student athletes and their families to take control of the athletic recruiting process to provide a more efficient path through the murky recruiting waters. All throughout the process, we will provide you with proactive guidance on the best possible steps and also dive into your unique process to find YOUR perfect fit.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT AREN

"I felt it was important to partner with AREN to give our families and players additional recruiting support. Football recruiting is extremely difficult to navigate, especially with all of the hype on social media. Having additional guidance and information on academics, financial aid and timelines has proven to be invaluable for our program."

-Joel Nellis, Affiliate Consultant

"The information Dan gives you is priceless. He takes a deep dive into your recruiting process and identifies critical information that is often overlooked during the journey."

- Jason Byers, High School Parent of Student Athlete