Special from
Scholarship for Athletes An open letter to high school tennis hopefuls seeking college scholarships from Coach Paul Torricelli, former head of men's tennis at Northwestern University.
Dear Recruits,
We're often told about the importance of "making good choices". Nothing could be more critical and relevant for today's prep tennis players when it comes to choosing the right college program. The sheer number of schools and the wide variety of factors that come into play when making these kinds of decisions will seem overwhelming to anyone, regardless of his or her tennis ranking and level.
For recruits, it's really their first big adult decision that could impact their futures and careers, which doesn't make it any easier. I have seen many recruits over the years make this decision quickly or without more careful consideration. Some ended up in programs and schools that just weren't right for them.
And it can be tough for coaches too. As a coach for 25 years and now as consultant at Scholarship for Athletes, I see both sides of the equation. As a coach I was always walking a fine line between promoting my program to candidates and trying to advise them on what was truly best for the recruit. I also had to rely on my own contacts for feedback about a particular player. I had a number of important factors to consider when offering a scholarship. As a consultant I realize the student-athlete has many more.
