With new rules established by the NCAA, gymnasts can start contacting college coaches in their junior year of high school. Therefore, when a recruit is allowed to start talking
to colleges, they often zoom their focus into Division I schools that are ranked in the top 30. As a
college gymnast, I always believed I wanted to be a part of a DI team that has fancy
buildings, dorms, dining halls, and more. But as I continued in my recruitment process, I figured out what I needed to be successful in college—and it wasn’t a big fancy school. It’s easy to get
blinded by the potential of how good the program can be that you neglect to see the other
important aspects that will contribute to happiness and success over the next four years. Looking
back on my recruitment process, I realized there are aspects of school I neglected to look out
for. Being a part of college gymnastics and helping guide gymnasts who come visit my school,
there are aspects I try to make them aware of.
Which division will serve you best?
When looking at colleges, look at all three divisions to see which one will give you
the most benefit. Some gymnasts want to be at a DI school because of the
opportunities for academics and athletics. With DI also comes scholarships, but you have to
consider: If you don’t receive a scholarship due to limited spots available, what is your backup
plan? Being a walk-on at a DI is never a bad decision, but you have to consider other aspects, like competition time and if you are able to pay for school.
Another difference between these divisions is the size of the campus. Some might enjoy a big college town where you have to take a bus to class while others may prefer a small-town feel where you can walk from one end of campus to the other in 10 minutes or less. I found being at a DIII school is better for me because there are smaller class sizes and a fewer people on
campus. You are also able to connect with your campus community at a much more intimate
level. You are there for your community of athletes, and you know they will be there to
support you, too. When choosing a division, go with your gut feeling on what will benefit you and
your career the most.
Which region of the country is your ideal?
Deciding what you want based on location can be difficult. With location, you
have to consider the possibility of being homesick or if you want independence to find yourself.
Going home when you live in a different state is not always feasible when you are a full-time
student-athlete. As someone who has a big family, being away is hard, and not being able to
be a part of important family events hurts. Despite this, I enjoy being independent and having the opportunity to learn more about who I am while away from my family.
Other things to reflect on are things you enjoy at home that you may not be able to find as easily in different states, like restaurants and stores. On top of that, consider the aspect of the weather. If you are someone who enjoys all four seasons, picking a college in a place where you’re able to enjoy the summer and winter months matters. Or if you don’t enjoy the cold, picking a college where the temperatures don’t dip too low may benefit you. Being from the South and moving to the Midwest, I was not prepared for the harsh winter months, but the longer I lived there, the more I was able to adapt to the cold.
What kind of culture would you thrive in?
This could be the most important part of finding the right school. When going on recruit visits
and watching practices, pay close attention to whether the team will be the best for you and if
you and your gymnastics will fit in well. Finding how the team behaves in and out of
practice is important because you want to see if it’s something you’ll be comfortable being a part of.
It’s good to have a competitive team where everyone wants to work hard, but you want the type of
competitiveness where your teammates push you to be your best. With this also comes the coaching staff. Coaches at college most likely will not have a similar
coaching style to what you’re used to at your club. Plus, when visiting
schools, it’s important to look belong the team. Some schools might not value academics as much as athletics, whereas others might value the opposite. Adapting is important, but if you feel like you won’t get along with your teammates or you won’t like a certain coach’s style, maybe it’s not
the best choice.
Does the school offer your major?
When starting the recruitment process, recruits are at such a young age that they may have no idea of what career they want to pursue in the future. Gymnastics can only get you so far in life, so making sure you get a good education and find a career you love is important. You have to
consider if the school you’re looking at offers those opportunities at the highest level, while
also considering which schools can give you the best education possible in that field. That’s a
lot to consider when you are a freshman or sophomore in high school when you barely have
your driver’s license.
Something I did when looking at different schools was make a list of the
top three careers I wanted to pursue in the future and apply them to every school I considered.
Most schools will offer at least one to two majors on your list and would be able to supply you with
the best of the best resources to accomplish your goals outside of gymnastics.
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Article by Emily Buffington
Buffington is a senior on the UW-Oshkosh gymnastics team and is majoring in journalism. She’s currently the Titans’ program record holder on vault (9.850), bars (9.875), and in the all-around (38.725) and was a part of the past two national championship winning teams. She also claimed a share of the individual bars title in 2022.
