quote:
maclefty asked...What should we be looking for when we visit?
maclefty,
There is so much to consider on an OV. It can be stimuli overload for your son. Off the top of my head....
1) An offer. How will your son respond or answer the question for an offer.
2) Does your son feel comfortable with the school/coach/players? What is the social scene like?
3) Does your son feel comfortable with classrooms (assuming he follows someone to some classes)
4) What kind of feedback or vibe is your son getting with the baseball team? Are the players someone he'd like to hang around?
5) Do the students/players seem genuinely happy to be there? How are the players treated by the coaches? Does it seem genuine?
6) What are the dorms/off-campus housing like? Food options?
7) Facilities, training room, etc...what is your son's impression of the facilities
8) Future. Does the program have plans in the next couple of years that will help your son.
I strongly suggest that you stop by the Financial Aid office, and self tour some of the academic buildings to get some of your own information on his OV.
Every OV is different. So what happened at one may not happen at another. Typically, parent and recruit meet the coach. The coach tells you about the program,and matches you up with player with the same major. Parent leaves. Player and recruit attend a class. Player spends the weekend meeting people, going to parties and functions. Saturday AM watch practice, tour facilities and go to a team event Saturday night. Go to breakfast. Recruit meets parent back in coaches office where the coach may want to have a discussion. 48 hour visit complete, go home. The drive and the time spent with your son afterwards is the most important IMHO. You get a sense of what he likes and doesn't like in these one on one discussions. Good luck!
