bjackson

Recently the NCAA made the decision to extend the Dead Period through the end of the year. The Dead Period prevents college coaches from recruiting at tournaments and does not allow in-person contact such as a meeting when a student-athlete is visiting campus. While this continues to make the recruiting process difficult for all parties there are still some ways to remain active. Also, keep in mind, DII, DIII, and NAIA programs are not under this Dead Period rule. If you are pursuing opportunities at DI programs then you need to both remain active but also patient. As long as you are being realistic with the programs you are contacting, then you need to continue to update the coaches and try to provide more visual updates via video and social media. They can't actually see you in person right now so you need to try and give [...]

Last week I shared a video to discuss the topic of "Why Her and Not Me" when it comes to trying to figure out why one girl gets recruited or gets the offer instead of you. In case you didn't get a chance to watch that episode I thought this week I would share a few of those actual reasons. That player started the recruiting process earlier or attended a camp There is a connection to the school like being a legacy kid, friends of a team member, etc... The coach saw the other girl play before he/she had a chance to watch you play Her grades may be better or she has already taken ACT/SAT and gotten the required scores That player may not be seeking scholarship money and she let that be known earlier It was a gut feeling the coach had or a better [...]

I have another IGTV video that I've gotten quite a bit of feedback from so I wanted to share that one with you again this week.  In this video, I talk about the question a lot of girls will ask as they navigate this process, "why her and not me?". Many times a recruit will have a hard time understanding why another girl is being recruited or is given the offer. There are many tangible and intangible factors that coaches consider in who they recruit and make offers. Some are within a recruit's control and others may not be. Some are based on being in the right place at the right time. Some are based on gut feelings and instant connections. Some are based on years of coaches knowing what is best for the team and the best for their coaching style. Many times you can’t take it [...]

A little different format this week but I was asked on social media about how to get over being shy when talking to the college coaches so I shared an IGTV video to discuss this. You can view that HERE   Written by: Brandi Jackson, RecruitPKB College Consultant For more information about college recruiting, please contact Brandi at bjackson@pkbgt.org

What advice would you give to a junior girl when she gets rejected or told the offer has been given to someone else? "I would tell her to not give up hope. The process is frustrating and stressful but you have to be patient and persistent. I faced many rejections, one of which was from my second choice, but the next day, I received an offer from my first. There will be a school out there that is waiting to welcome you with open arms; you just have to be patient and continue to work hard." - Ivy League Golfer "In terms of advice that I would give a junior girl, I would say, and I’m sure they hear this a lot, to just keep trying with other schools. I know that rejection isn’t fun, but it happens to everyone. Remind yourself of your goals and trust [...]

What have you struggled with the most since getting to college? "Being patient with results and just trusting the process day in and day out. In the meantime, intentionally enjoying and appreciated the free time I do have is something I am constantly working on." - Ivy League Golfer "Personally I would say the competition of qualifying is a struggle; the team has good players and you and your teammates all want to succeed but at the same time you want to qualify." - DII Golfer "Always trying to be at my best is way harder in college due to getting less sleep every night and the exposure to more germs and illnesses can make it difficult to always feel 100% and give all out effort." - DI Golfer "I was always told that college golf is way less stressful than junior golf, especially if you’re not [...]

What has been the biggest surprise or adjustment about college golf?   “I think the biggest surprise about college golf was how much more goes into it than junior golf. Now, I have to be responsible for everything that goes into being prepared for the golf tournament. After the tournament, I can’t rely on my parents to help unpack if I’m a little tired or take the day off school the next day. It is a bigger commitment, but the reward is greater too as you get to represent an entire team and school, not just yourself.” - DI Golfer   "Trying to understand and respect different approaches of my teammates as we try to reach the same goals" - Ivy League Golfer   "A big adjustment for me was dealing with competitiveness between teammates. In high school, I didn’t have to compete a lot with my [...]