With new rules established by the NCAA, gymnasts can start contacting college coaches in their junior year of high school. Therefore, when a recruit is allowed to start talking
to colleges, they often zoom their focus into Division I schools that are ranked in the top 30. As a
college gymnast, I always believed I wanted to be a part of a DI team that has fancy
buildings, dorms, dining halls, and more. But as I continued in my recruitment process, I figured out what I needed to be successful in college—and it wasn’t a big fancy school. It’s easy to get
blinded by the potential of how good the program can be that you neglect to see the other
important aspects that will contribute to happiness and success over the next four years. Looking
back on my recruitment process, I realized there are aspects of school I neglected to look out
for. Being a part of college gymnastics and helping guide gymnasts who come visit my school,
there are aspects I try to make them aware of.
Which division will serve you best?
When looking at colleges, look at all three divisions to see which one will give you
the most benefit. Some gymnasts want to be at a DI school because of the
opportunities for academics and athletics. With DI also comes scholarships, but you have to
consider: If you don’t…
