So you want to become a college golfer. Congratulations on pursuing your dream and taking your game to the next level. But how do you get there and how do you find the perfect college for you? Well you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts for your college recruitment process!

DO: Create a recruiting profile. I chose an NCSA profile, but you can really choose any legitimate recruiting site that you want. An NCSA profile is the best because they are fact checked and verify that your handicap and tournament scores are real, and they have helpful demographics about the schools you’re looking at on their site. This profile comes with swing videos and direct communication with college coaches. These can be a little pricey, but think of it as an investment towards your dream of playing at the next level.

DON’T: Send letters. I sent about 10 letters to different college coaches and I didn’t get a single response. Why? They didn’t know who I was! NCSA and other recruiting profiles are verified, so college coaches know that who they are talking to is a legitimate player who hasn’t made up crazy low golf scores.

DO: Email as many coaches as possible, and keep your options open. Don’t stop emailing that coach from a small Minnesota school because you don’t want to go there. At the very least, it is good practice emailing back and forth for when you do get an email from the coach at your dream school. As it get closer to committing, narrow your options down to about 5 schools. But when you start, email as many as you want!

DON’T: Post videos of alcohol, drugs, or excessive partying on social media. And watch your language on Twitter and Facebook! This can be the deciding factor if a coach needs to pick between two players. A coach will not pick the player that has beer and cuss words all over their social media profiles. This does not mean social media all bad though. Show off your skills on Facebook and follow your dream schools on Instagram! You can read more about proper social media use if you click on this link.

DO: Research the school BEFORE you have a phone call with the coach. This is just like a job interview. You wouldn’t go into a job interview knowing nothing about the job you’re applying for! Be engaging, congratulate them on their latest tournament finish. Ask about their performance at the conference finals in the previous year. Brush up on your interview skills and wow them! Like I said before, it is always a good idea to call coaches of schools you are a little less interested in, before you set up that phone interview with your dream school.

Deep breath, you’ve got this! The recruiting process may seem overwhelming, but college golf is going to be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Go get ’em!