Your Questions. Answered.

There isn't one exact starting point for every athlete. Your sport, age, athletic level, academics and goals all play a role. Starting earlier gives you more time to understand your options, build your profile, communicate with coaches and make informed decisions.

Starting early can help you understand the process and prepare before important recruiting decisions need to be made. Your individual recruiting timeline will depend on your sport, age and circumstances.

It depends on your situation. Even if you feel behind, there may still be opportunities available. Your athletic level, academic profile, graduation year and the schools you're targeting will all affect your options.

The process can include evaluating your athletic and academic profile, building a recruiting profile, identifying suitable schools, contacting coaches, communicating with programs, assessing interest and eventually evaluating your options.

Coaches can evaluate athletic ability, position or event fit, academics, character, communication, physical development and whether an athlete fits the needs of their program.

Athletic scholarships vary by school, sport and division. The amount and structure of financial aid can also depend on academic performance and other forms of assistance. Every athlete's situation is different.

No. NextUpRecruitment cannot promise or guarantee a scholarship, offer or placement. College decisions are made by individual institutions and depend on many factors. Our role is to help athletes prepare, identify opportunities and take a proactive approach to their recruitment.

Academic funding can be an important part of reducing the overall cost of college. Eligibility and availability depend on the school and the athlete's academic profile.

A full athletic scholarship is not the only way to make college affordable. Athletes may have access to combinations of athletic aid, academic scholarships, grants, work-study and other funding opportunities depending on their circumstances.

Understanding the full financial picture is important. This can include looking at athletic scholarships, academic funding, grants and other available sources of assistance when comparing schools.

Athletes can contact coaches directly using email, phone and other communication methods. A strong introduction should clearly communicate who you are, your academic and athletic background and why you're interested in that program.

Consistent and professional follow-up is an important part of recruiting. Coaches are busy, and a lack of an immediate response doesn't necessarily mean a program isn't interested.

Your communication should make it easy for a coach to understand who you are. Include relevant athletic and academic information, your graduation year, position or event, relevant film or profile information and why you're interested in the program.

Coaches receive a large amount of recruiting communication, so responses can take time. Reviewing your target schools, improving your communication and following up appropriately can all help improve your outreach strategy.

NextUpRecruitment provides access to a large network of college coaches across different levels and programs. Our current network is built around more than 50,000 college coaches.

Academics are an important part of the recruiting process. Your academic profile can affect which schools you're eligible for and what academic funding opportunities may be available.

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the governing organization, division, school and athlete. Requirements can change, which is why athletes should make sure they understand the rules that apply to their individual situation.

Academic requirements vary by school and governing body, but academics are an important part of the overall recruitment process. Strong academic performance can also expand your options.

NextUp provides guidance throughout the recruitment process and helps athletes understand important eligibility considerations. Specific eligibility decisions are ultimately determined by the relevant governing organization and institution.

Yes. International student-athletes can pursue opportunities to compete at U.S. colleges, provided they meet the applicable academic, athletic, eligibility and immigration requirements.

Yes. NextUp works with athletes internationally who want to pursue U.S. college sports opportunities. Our recruitment process can include guidance around the college recruitment journey and, where applicable, support through the U.S. visa process.

International athletes who are admitted to a U.S. institution generally need to complete the appropriate student visa process. The exact requirements depend on the athlete's circumstances and the institution.

Visa assistance may be included with applicable NextUp services. Our team can provide guidance on what to expect and help athletes prepare for the process.

NextUp helps student-athletes navigate the college recruitment process. We combine recruitment tools, access to college coaches, strategy and personalized guidance to help athletes identify and pursue opportunities.

NextUp is designed to be more than a database. Alongside access to college recruiting information and coaches, NextUp provides recruitment tools, educational resources and, depending on the service selected, personalized recruitment guidance.

The NextUp platform is free to get started. Additional plans are available for athletes who want enhanced recruitment tools, visibility and support.

You begin by creating your recruitment profile and establishing your goals. From there, the recruitment process can include evaluation, onboarding, identifying target programs, outreach to qualifying schools and assessing the feedback and opportunities you receive.

Absolutely. You can schedule a recruitment assessment with the NextUp team to discuss your goals, current situation and potential next steps.