Everyone will tell you to consider five things in your college search:
- Academics
- Athletics
- Financial fit
- Geography
- Social aspects
But here's what they don't tell you - it's not about knowing what matters.
It's about knowing how much each thing matters to you.
Think You Know Your Priorities?
Let's try something: Set a timer for 60 seconds. Write those five factors in order of importance.
No editing. No overthinking. Just write.
Whatever order you have when the timer goes off? That's your gut telling you something important about your real priorities.
Now look at your current target schools. Do they align with what your gut just told you?
Most players immediately say athletics is their top priority - and it's no surprise that this element gets "overweighted" in many people's thinking.
But when pressed, they often reveal:
- Academic programs will drive their future
- Financial realities will shape their choices
- Location will affect their happiness
- Social fit will determine their success
The Weighting Problem
It's easy to get distracted by:
- Division level
- Conference prestige
- Program reputation
- Team rankings
But four years go by fast. And field hockey is only part of each day.
One Thing That Works
Take your top five target schools and ask: "Would I want to attend this school if I couldn't play field hockey?"
If the answer is no, you need to re-evaluate your priorities.
Reality Check
You're not just choosing a field hockey program.
You're choosing where to spend four years of your life. You're choosing your future opportunities.
Make sure you're choosing based on what actually matters to you, not what others think should matter.
Want my complete framework for evaluating what really matters in your college search? The Field Hockey Recruit Playbook just launched yesterday, and it includes my "Five to Find the Fit" system that helps you discover and analyze your true priorities.
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