Navigating the Recruiting Game: Your Guide to “Safety Schools”

As a student-athlete, you know the pressure of recruiting. You want to play at the highest level, and you’ve likely set your sights on a “reach” school—that dream university you’ve worked so hard for. But a new article highlights a crucial part of the recruiting process that is often overlooked: the “safety school.”

A college admissions consultant, Alexis White, states that every student’s list should include at least three genuine safety schools. A safety school is a college where your academic credentials exceed the typical admissions standards, making your acceptance highly likely. White emphasizes a key point that applies directly to you as a student-athlete: you have to be willing to play there. The goal is to have a “safety” where you would feel excited and confident, not just resigned.

Visiting these schools, even for a day, can be a game-changer. The article notes that visiting a safety school can give you “peace of mind” and a sense of calm during a stressful application and recruiting process. One student-athlete who visited their safety school’s campus and attended a basketball game felt a connection and was ultimately comfortable with the idea of going there if they didn’t get into their top-choice school.

By taking the time to visit and genuinely consider your safety schools, you’re not just creating a fallback plan. You’re building a roster of options you’d be happy to play for, which allows you to approach the rest of the recruiting process with confidence. It’s about ensuring you have a great team to play for, no matter the outcome.