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Senior athletes explain what it takes to be a college commit.

As the end of the school year nears, many seniors at Fairview are committing to colleges. Some students are taking a particular path-- committing for a sport and receiving sports-related scholarships.

The college admissions process for sports commits is quite different from the regular application and acceptance process for nonathletes. Although many students are aware that they have already been accepted into a school based on their athletic abilities and the multiple different tryouts and tests they have to complete, college athletes still have to wait for their acceptance to a school just like any other applicant.

“I was so excited when I got my acceptance letter,” said Ellori Crosby (12). “I already knew that I was accepted, but It actually felt real at that point.”

The excitement of getting into a college is all the same for athletes, “I’m excited to go to Princeton, It really is exciting to get in and be able to swim as well.” said Edie Simecek (12).

The admissions process can start as early as sophomore year, with most athletes starting the process their junior year.

“The recruiting process for me was a little intense and intimidating because it’s so different from what everybody else goes through. And nobody in my family has gone through the recruiting process. So we didn’t know what we were doing. And it’s just intimidating to go up to the coach, talk to a coach, and then travel and meet the team. But once it’s over, it’s a breeze.” said Julia Urbanowski (12).

It can also be a super quick process that athletes aren’t aware of until they are already involved.

“I didn’t know I was being recruited until I was eating lunch with the head track coach. And when I asked him what [the lunch] was about, he just looked at me like I was stupid and goes this is recruiting.”

Flynn Meier (12) said, “For me, I emailed the head coach two weeks before I was going to California.