No one ever warns athletes that the most difficult part of the recruiting process isn’t the early morning workouts, the late-night practices, the balancing act of being a student-athlete, or the pressure to perform; it’s the constant comparison. It is estimated that over 90% of NCAA athletes post their commitment. Every commitment post turns one person’s excitement and relief into a silent measurement of where you think you should be. As social media has become more popular, the process has become less about personal achievement and growth and more about constant concern around timelines and rankings. In reality, only 7% of high school athletes make it to college athletics, yet everyone sees commitment posts on their social media feed.

As a student athlete myself, I have faced it all, the comparisons, the pressure, putting the work in when no one’s watching. My recruiting process was filled with doubt about whether I was making the right decision, and what people would think if I chose this school. I have learned that there is far more value in choosing a school that suits you than in what looks right to other people. For me, I was focused on academics, knowing that my athletic career was not going to continue after college, my education came first. I was determined to find my fit with a small community.

Pressure looks and feels different for everyone. Pressure can come from multiple sources, but as the popularity of social media has grown, so has the culture of comparison. Expectations that are set on young athletes are often unrealistic and lack key information. At 15 or 16 years old, athletes are still growing athletically but also personally and academically. Over time, the pressure to commit early has shifted from an option to an expectation. With the thought of an early commitment always at the back of their mind, it can cause athletes to lose the freedom to develop at their own pace. They are now given less time to consider the fit that they want athletically, academically, and socially, and instead, their decision is affected by public opinions. 

I committed early to a Division III school during my junior year and was always worried about what people would think. It took me 7 months to announce my decision, and when I did, the questions came: “Oh, so you’re going to enter the transfer portal,”  or “Why would you go there?” You can be proud of yourself and still think, maybe I didn’t make the right decision. You have to block out the noise and remember everything you took into consideration. I had to tell myself that  I am the one living my life and not anyone else. 

With constant pressure applied from various sources, athletes can begin to focus on the clock instead of focusing on skill and character development. Progress no longer seems to be measured on the field anymore, but by whether your name is attached to a graphic on a social media post. Scrolling through commitment posts can lead to self-doubt, making athletes constantly question their value and overlook the hours of work that no one sees. 

I was someone who always felt the constant comparison if I didn’t go Division I, that I wasn’t good enough. As I continued through my recruiting process, I met a coach who had completely changed everything for me. I visited the campus, and in my mind, there was no going back. After the visit, I began to investigate all the different levels and the options I had, knowing that I had one more season left.

A lot of pressure can come from the fact that division levels and what they represent are easily misunderstood. Divisions I, II, and III are viewed as levels of success when, in reality, they are different environments with separate priorities. Division I programs have extreme athletic demands and less of a focus on school. The majority of Division I athletes aspire to go professional, and your sport becomes a full-time job with schoolwork coming second. Division I schools also have larger enrollment numbers, with over 9,000 students, as well as revenue-sharing roster restrictions. This allows for your spot to always be up for grabs due to recent changes in the letter of intent. 

Even though people believe that Division II is a step down, it’s a middle ground with a larger enrollment number and is considered a more equal balance. Division II offers both merit and athletic scholarships, which can help make college extremely more affordable. When push comes to shove, athletics is still at a high priority. 

Lastly, at the Division III school, there is a significantly smaller enrollment number with a heavy focus on academic standing. Smaller teams and smaller professor-to-student ratios can be considered a pro or a con depending on your preferences. There are so many options and schools out there; only you can choose what’s right for you.

At the end of the day, the location, academics, division level, and the size of the school only affect you. Recruiting should be about finding the right fit to support you and your future, not racing a timeline or meeting goals that were never yours to begin with. You are the only one that are going to the school you chose, not all the outsiders who haven’t been in your shoes.