Picking the Right School

How to Handle Multiple College Offers

By Catherine Light|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on February 22, 2022)

Before you start your college experience, you need to choose where you're going to take your talents. You're almost to the finish line, but what happens when you have multiple offers? First of all, you should celebrate! The hardest part of the process is over and now you have to choose which college is going to be your home. This can definitely be a nerve-wracking time, but don't worry; we're here to help. We're going to break it down for you into four sections: communication, organization, Pros and Cons list, and your support team. Let's get started!

Communication:
One of the easiest ways to make sure this process goes smoothly is to prioritize your communication. Make sure that you receive enough information from coaches and programs about what they are offering you and what information they might need. Things to keep track of include what their offer entails, how long they can provide your scholarship package for, and if there are any deadlines to give them your final decision. Make sure you're very clear on this and keep a record of it! If a coach changes their mind, you need to take note of that.

Communication is key in this process! You need to make sure that you are staying on top of your correspondence with coaches and answering them promptly. Communicating often shows your interest, and helps them remember who you are. Whether you are emailing, texting, or calling, try to stay away from mentioning other offers, unless you plan to request for more accommodating scholarship packages.

The manner in which you speak to these coaches depends on how you're connecting. In emails, you can have longer messages and more formal requests, and you create a ‘paper trail' of your interactions. With email, it is important to be formal, but it is great to show some personality too.

The bottom line is to make sure you are clear and to the point with whatever you are saying. Coaches are busy, so you want to avoid the fluff as much as you can. Ask any questions you might have, but don't fluff it up with small talk.

As scary as it can seem, you need to take responsibility in talking to these coaches yourself. You should present yourself professionally, like a business interaction between you and the coaches. Make it a priority and have fun with it!

Organization:

The next most important step is to stay organized. There is a lot of information going around and the worst thing that could happen is losing an important form or a coach's contact info. Keep everything that coaches and admissions staff have given you, and organize it by school so you can add it to the pros and cons list (see below). It's just as important, however, to keep your own situation organized.

Financial Standing
You need to know what your situation is in order to ask for the support that you will need to attend an institution. What is your financial standing like? Speak with your parent(s) and the financial services at each school to figure out specific loans and scholarships that could benefit you. Colleges need to know these things in order to offer a financial package based on your needs and your athletic ability.

Academic Standing
Your academic standing is also an important thing to keep track of. You need to have your transcripts, GPA, and test scores handy for the coaches to relay them to their admissions department.

There are a lot of moving parts within this recruiting process, so don't confuse yourself by being unorganized in the process. You should make the decision as easy as you can and staying organized with your own paperwork can be a big help.

Related: 6 Steps to Getting Recruited

Support System:
Although this can seem like a decision you have to make on your own, it is important to remember that you have a support system, no matter what it looks like. Your family, friends, coaches, guidance counselors, teachers, or anybody that cares for you, are there to help you. This is a big decision to make and you can't expect to know everything.

Whoever is on your side, keep them in the loop. They can help you handle all the information coming in and provide advice or assistance in responding and organizing your position. Have them advocate for you and help you prepare for any possible outcome that might come your way. They could offer their opinion and act as a sounding board for any questions you have.

Related: Athletes Supporting Athletes

Pros and Cons list:
Now that we are organized, communicating with coaches, and working with our support system, here comes the fun part. The only way to make the best decision for your future is to compare the options. An easy way to accomplish this is by making a pros and cons list. What should you include in this list? Here are a few important factors to consider when making your comparison:

Financial Standing
- How much are they offering you? If it is your top school but still expensive, ask if they can give you a better package so you can make an easier decision.
Housing Options
- Do you have to live on campus?
- What are the on-campus housing options?
- What are the off-campus housing rates?
- Do you have to room with teammates?
Dining Options
- Do you have to have a meal plan?
- Are there good dining options?
Transportation Options
- Are you allowed to have a car?
- Do students get free or discounted public transportation?
- Does the school have a shuttle?

Social
- Do you like the size of the school?
- Do you like the team? How do you think you would fit into their program?
Athletic
- Did you like the coach's style? Would you be receptive to their cues?
- Can you handle the intensity of their practices? Or would it be over/underwhelming?
- Is there an athletic trainer?
- How are the facilities?
- Will you get playing time?

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities and Campus Visits

Overall Well-being
- What mental health services do they offer?
- Is there a student health center?
- Do they offer health insurance options?
- Does the school feel like a safe space?
- Does the distance from home matter to you? How would you feel being that distance away from home?

Academic
- Does the school have your major?
- What is their alumni network like?
- How big are their classes and how would that affect your academics?
- Are you receiving an academic scholarship?
- Would you do well with the level of intensity in their classes?
- What is the academic support like?

Declining an Offer:
The last topic to cover is how to decline an offer. This can be a little tricky because you definitely don't want to burn any bridges, but telling them your decision promptly is necessary. If they were helpful in the process, you want to thank them for their consideration and efforts in recruiting you, and tell them you plan to continue your academic and athletic career at another institution.

You should not feel bad about this step! Coaches are used to getting these messages and they understand that it is all in a day's work. That said, you should still approach it with sensitivity and show your appreciation for their time spent on helping you in your recruiting process, even if you didn't end up choosing their program. Getting an email that you're going elsewhere is better than being ghosted.

Don't make the mistake of telling coaches your decision without it being finalized. Verbal offers and promises are always great, but nothing is set in stone until the paperwork is signed. When you decline offers, make sure that you are undeniably committed to your program of choice before saying no to others. It can be a drawn-out process, but it is important to keep in mind any deadlines and forms that are required for you to be accepted.

Finally, be diligent that you decline offers before posting anywhere on social media that you've made the decision already. The worst outcome is that a coach finds out you ended up choosing a different school through Facebook.

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