A great thing about visiting schools during your recruiting process is that you are exposed to different ways of life and perspectives. Although there are some who are lucky enough to travel far before going into college, many student-athletes' scope of the world is only of their hometown. 

However, while being introduced to new things can be an exciting experience, it also can be off-putting on the recruitment trail. Student-athletes might write a school off as not being the right “fit” just for because they're unfamiliar with life there, but doing so robs themselves of so many great experiences to be had. The article below provides some advice for getting over the hump of feeling culture-shock when visiting a school and evaluating the school without bias. We also asked a few student-athletes if they felt out-of place when visiting schools and how they dealt with it.

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At a base level, the environment that a school is in can be enough to turn a player away. If they grew up in a warm climate, playing in the snow might not sound too enticing. If something like that is a deal-breaker for an athlete, it's perfectly okay to have a personal preference. But if living in a certain climate is something that you're not passionate about either way, then give schools a chance. 

Take Alex Escobar, who plays running back at New Mexico State University, for example. Alex grew up in the dry heat of Phoenix, Arizona. When he first got interest from New Mexico State, living in the cold winters of Las Cruces did not sound very fun to him. But taking his visit in the middle of winter, he found that he loved the area: the weather, the city, the activities, everything appealed to him in ways he didn't think were possible.

Related: 5 Culture Shock Tips for International Student-Athletes

The people in college are who you're going to be making your memories with, so it's essential that you gel with them. Plus, in life exposing yourself to new ways of thought is one of the best things that a person can do. Ruben Beltran, a quarterback at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, says that traveling across the country to attend school there is one of the best things he has ever done. “At first, I thought I wasn't going to get along with the people there because of how I thought they viewed things and that I came from the city and they're from the country. But getting to know all of them really changed my mind on things and opened up my scope of how I see people.” The more you understand people, the more connections you can make.

Despite what some athletes may think, the point of college is to get an education, not just athletics. So when visiting a school, you must ask yourself, “How do I fit here scholastically?” You can get answers to what a university offers program-wise from their websites and pamphlets, but you have to be in-tune with your goals for the future when making your decision. 

If school isn't your utmost priority, then it might not be best to commit to an honors university. But again, like climates and meeting people, you should expose yourself to new experiences. You never know how far you can go until you try, and if a school with a rigorous academic program is recruiting you, chances are that they believe you can achieve it. Alyssa Moreno, a rower at the University of San Diego, said that she was intimidated at first with the demanding curriculum, but says that going there made her push herself farther than she ever thought she could. Putting yourself in an uncomfortable spot allows you to see your fullest potential and this might come at a school you least expect.

Dealing with a culture-shock at a new school is certainly something that is difficult to get over during your recruitment but it shouldn't prevent you from viewing a school impartially. It's worth giving a new climate, program, or even people a chance, because you never know how positive the experience can be.
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* Originally published on June 21, 2022, by Isaac Haney