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College Target List

COLLEGE TARGET LIST

Instructional & Information Sheet

 

College Target List  

  • The College Target List (CTL) is an Excel Google Doc that keeps college aspiring players accountable, focused, organized and proactive with the colleges they’ve identified and researched as a good fit. Below is a step by step instructional guide on how to use your personal CTL.

 

CTL Document Link

  • To create a better understanding of the CTL Doc, click on the link below and look over the document. Note: The “Yellow Highlighted Information” is a sample guide to follow, showing how the CTL Doc is used.

 

First Steps

  • To make your CTL more impactful, consider completing Trosky Baseball’s 4 pillars to recruiting success. If you haven’t completed Pillars 2, 3 and 4, get started with Pillar 1 and complete the other 3 Pillars as soon as possible.

 

Trosky’s 4 Pillars to Recruiting Sucess:

  1. Fill in and complete “The Fit List” Google Doc
  2. Get 5 Tool Tested and Assessed
  3. Receive a College Coach Personal Player Evaluation
  4. Receive a (PPPA) Personal Player Projection Assessment from Coach Trosky

 

To Begin

  • Begin by writing down up to 6 colleges that you’re interested in. Pick 2 colleges that you feel are “Reach Schools,” pick 2 colleges that you feel are “Realistic Schools,” and pick 2 colleges you feel are “Reserve Schools.”
  • Once you've written down your initial list of colleges, it’s time to enter them into your CTL Google Doc. Be sure to place the colleges into the right category (Reach, Realistic and Reserve). The 3 categories (Reach, Realistic and Reserve) are colored Grey and listed in the column on the left side of your CTL document (D-9 and below). Once you have your first 6 colleges listed and researched, gradually add colleges to your list.

 

Reach / Realistic / Reserve 

  1. Reach = “Reach Colleges” are dream schools that will be a reach for you to attend either academically, athletically or both. They're dream colleges top on your list.
  2. Realistic = “Realistic Colleges” are colleges you feel are realistic for you to attend both academically and athletically.
  3. Reserve = “Reserve Colleges” are back-up choices in case your Reach and or Realistic colleges don't work out.

 

Research / Information

  • These 2 links will help you find detailed information about the different colleges you’re pursuing, providing the information needed to complete your CTL Google Doc.

 

  • Under the Title-bar, fill in the information you’ve gathered for each college. The Title-bar runs across the top of the document and is separated into different titles and colors.
  • With the more research you do, you will learn that some of your original college choices should be removed from your CTL because they’re not a good fit. Replace the removed colleges with new colleges that you feel are a good fit.

 

Determining the Right-Fit

  • Utilize the four ”Right-Fit” categories below to determine if your college selections are the right fit for you. As you do research and fill in the information on your CTL, it’ll become evident which colleges are the right fit and which ones aren't. Colleges considered the Right-Fit have a 3/4 and or a 4/4 “Fit-Ratio.” If the Fit-Ratio is 0/4, 1/4 or 2/4, then remove the college from your CTL because it is not a good fit. Here is an example of a college that has a 2/4 Fit-Ratio.
    • Player A: For Player A, USC is a good “Academic Fit” and a good “Social Fit” but it’s not a good “Athletic Fit” and not a good “Financial Fit.” Conclusion: USC for Player A is not a good fit, therefore USC should be removed from the Player A’s CTL because USC has a 2/4 Fit-Ratio.
    • Player B: For Player B, Cal Poly is a good “Academic Fit,” a good “Social Fit,” a good “Athletic Fit” and a good “Financial Fit.”  Conclusion: Cal Poly for Player B is a good fit and should be kept on his CTL because it has a 4/4 Fit-Ratio.

 

     The Right Fit - 4 Categories (in order of Importance)                                                                         

1. Academic Fit = (the college academically is a good fit)

2. Financial Fit = (the college financially is a good fit)

3. Athletic Fit = (the college athletically is a good fit)

4. Social Fit = (the college socially is a good fit)

 

CTL Key Points:

  • The CTL Google Doc is utilized by uncommitted players.
  • The CTL Google Doc is personal and individual to the specific player that completes it.                   
  • The colleges listed on your CTL Google Doc will possibly change over time as research is done and information is gathered.
  • Your CTL Google Doc should be edited and updated regularly, therefore don’t feel stuck with the colleges you originally start with.
  • Your CTL Google Doc will grow over time. As you research colleges you will grow and so will your list. The more colleges you list as a good fit the better because you’re gathering information, learning the process, ultimately raising you’re raising your odds of being recruited.
  • Your CTL Google Doc will eventually consist of between 10 and 20 colleges.

 

Compass / Navigation

  • Your  CTL serves as your compass and navigation, guiding you through the many decisions you’ll make through the recruiting process

 

   Decisions like:

  • What colleges to pursue and be pro-active with?
  • What college camps and prospect events to attend?
  • What colleges to apply to?

 

 

EXPLANATION OF THE TITLE-BAR

GREY SAMPLE

  • The “Grey Highlighted Information” is a sample guide to follow, showing how the CTL Doc is used.

 

GENERAL

  • “General” is the column to list the names of the colleges you are interested in pursuing.

 

RIGHT FIT-RATIO

  • The “Right Fit-Ratio” tells what ratio the college is at being The Right Fit in regards to “The 4-Fit Catagories.” If a college has a 4/4 Fit-Ration, then it’s a perfect fit; meaning it is a good Academic Fit, a good Financial Fit, a good Athletic Fit, and a good Social Fit. The Right Fit-Ration section is completed after you've filled in all the information for the specific college your researching.
  • Colleges don't have to be a perfect fit to be kept on your College target list.
  • The Right Fit-Ratio is the column that you decide what ratio fit each college is for you (i.e. 0/4, 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4).

 

COACHES

  • Coach 1
    • List the name, position and contact info of the college coach you are in contact with.
  • Coach 2
    • List the name, position and contact info of the other college coach (on the same staff) that you are also in contact with. If you don't have a second college coach you are communicating with then leave this section blank.

 

ACADEMIC FIT

  • Answer all the questions in the Green Rows titled “Academic Fit”
    • Core GPA
      • List your current core GPA.
    • SAT / ACT
      • List your SAT and ACT scores (practice or final scores). If you haven’t taken yet leave blank.
    • Academic Load
      • Choose the academic load your interested in having in college (Light / Moderate / Heavy).
    • Majors
      • List the majors you are interested in (list up to 4).

 

FINANCIAL FIT

  • Answer all the questions in the Tan Rows titled “Financial Fit”
    • Total Cost
      • List the total cost for the college for 1 year. The total cost includes; housing, meal plan, and tuition.
    • Baseball Scholarships
      • List the total number of baseball scholarships offered each year by the baseball program. If you don't know, leave this section blank. Consider doing research online to find out or ask the college coach you are in contact with. Most DI’s = 11.7 / DI Ivy League = no baseball scholarships / DII’s = between 2 and 10 / DIII’s = no baseball scholarships / NAIA = between 2 and 12 / California CC’s = no baseball scholarships / All other CC’s = 2 to 15 baseball scholarships.                           
    • Academic Scholarships
      • Answer the question; Do you think you will qualify for an academic scholarship offered by the specific institution?

 

ATHLETIC FIT

  • Answer all the questions in the Purple rows titled “Athletic Fit”
    • Division
      • List the “Division” the college is in (i.e. NCAA Division I, NCAA Division DII, NCAA Division DIII, NAIA or JC)
    • Conference
      • List the “Conference” the college is in (i.e. ACC, Pac 12, Big West, WCC, etc.)
    • Level
      • List the “Level” the college is (i.e. a top-level, middle level or a low-level team in their conference and national ranking).

 

SOCIAL FIT

  • Answer all the questions in the Light-blue rows titled “Social Fit”
    • College Setting
      • List the college population, city, and state (i.e. 11,648 population, Chesnut Hill, MA)
    • Distance
      •  List the distance from home and how you plan to travel home for holidays, etc... (i.e. 3189 miles from home, traveling by plane).

 

  • Weather
    • List the weather, season and climate (i.e. 4 seasons, hot, humid, snow, mild, etc…).
  • College Setting
    •  List the college setting (i.e Urban, Suburban, Rural).
  • Classroom
    • List the classroom size (i.e Large, medium, small).

 

PLAYER PRO-ACT

  • Answer all the questions in the Pink Rows titled “Player Pro-Act.”
  • In these columns fill in the appropriate information according to what you are doing to be proactive in the recruiting process.

 

  • Complete: College Recruiting Questionnaires
    • One of the first steps to the recruiting process is filling out the "College Recruiting Questionnaires” of the colleges from your CTL. Players of all graduation years can complete college questionnaires. Completing College Questionnaires is a common way for college coaches to connect with the high school players, helping them gather extensive information on future prospects. Fill out a college recruiting questionnaire for each college on your CTL list by going onto their baseball website home-page.                                                           
  • Attended: Prospect Camps
    • Most colleges hold prospects camps throughout the year. The main purpose of college prospect camps is to find new high school recruits to complete their future recruiting needs. Attend college prospect camps of the priority colleges on your CTL. Your family budget and calendar will determine how many prospect camps you’ll be able to attend.   
    • If you’ve attended a college prospect camp, write “Yes” and list the “Date” of the event you attended.
  • Attended: College Visit
    • If you’ve made an unofficial or an official visit to the college, write “Yes” and put the “Date” of the visit.
  • Attended: Campus Tour
    • If you’ve taken a campus tour of the college, write “Yes” and the “Date” of the tour.
  • Emailing Colleges
    • The most efficient way to connect with college coaches is through email. Follow the recruiting calendar and get your emails out on time.
    • Follow the strategic email timeline that you’ll receive in your “6th Tool Nation Weekly Blast.”
    • If you have written emails to the college, write "Yes” and the date you emailed.

 

COLLEGE PRO-ACT

  • The College Pro-Act section is Purple.
    • In the College Pro-Act columns, fill in the appropriate information according to how the college coaches have connected with you. Include the date they connected and how they connected.
    • Note: Due to NCAA Compliance guidelines and mandates, NCAA DI and NCAA DII college coaches are limited in their way, means, and times they legally can connect with you. NCAA DIII, NAIA and JC coaches are not limited to such boundaries.

 

PLAYER NOTES

  • The Player Notes section is the color Vanilla
    • There are 3 cells for a player to write notes in, important information gathered during the recruiting process.
    • An important area to make notes about is the player’s contact he has with specific coaches from the

 

CLOSING

In closing, remember that selecting the college that you will eventually attend to play college baseball for and to receive your college degree from is a process that requires time, patience and perseverance. As you research, build and work your CTl, remember the key to college fulfillment, success and happiness are picking a college because it is truly the right fit for you!

 

Enjoy the Journey!

Better Everyday!

Nate Trosky Baseball

CEO: 6th Tool Nation