Behind the curtain of recruiting lies unofficial visits. They are paid by you and your parents and not the school. They don’t come with the fun perks of professional pictures in a team’s leotard or an invitation to a football game with other recruited athletes. But, at this stage of recruiting it’s a pathway to getting a jumpstart on the recruiting process and getting a feel of what’s right for you.
Unlike official visits, unofficial visits are unlimited, but they don’t hold as much value. Many times official visits are the final plea for college coaches to reel you in. They show you the glitz and glam of the school, introduce you to the team, and lock you in with the school spirit of crazy students tailgating for a football game. Scholarships are even offered on these visits, putting the athlete on the spot but also with reflection of the awesome weekend they just had.
With unofficial visits, it’s up to you how you interact with the school.
In the beginning of February I took an unofficial visit to Clemson. I booked a guided tour, did an extra walk around of the campus, and looked at the location of the upcoming gymnastics facility overlooking a beautiful lake. My visit made my bond with Clemson stronger because I had a chance to connect with the feel of…
