Pre-Read Prep

What is a pre-read?

Once a recruiting coach determines his/her top recruits, the coach collects the information listed below from the prospective student-athletes and delivers it to the athletics liaison in their admissions department. This process gives the admissions department a chance to review the academic qualifications and admissibility of each recruit and provide feedback so the coach can decide whether or not to proceed with recruiting.

When do pre-reads happen?

Admissions pre-reads typically happen between the junior year and senior year after grades are complete.

What materials should a student-athlete prepare?

• Transcripts: Gather unofficial transcripts from all high schools attended (including online and community college).

• Test Scores: For the purpose of a pre-read, test scores can be unofficial (screen capture from the SAT or ACT report). At “test-required” schools, student-athletes must submit at least one set of test scores. At “test-optional” schools, student-athletes should talk with the recruiting coach to see whether their current scores would be helpful for the pre-read. “Test-free” schools do not require test scores for a pre-read.

• Senior Year Classes: When the pre-read happens at the end of a student-athlete’s junior year, coaches will ask for a list of senior year classes. If the classes are not easily accessible from the student-athlete’s high school portal, ask the guidance department to provide the documentation.

• NCAA Eligibility Center: If the student-athlete is being recruited by NCAA Division I or II schools, make sure the Eligibility Center account is updated in preparation for the recruiting coach to place the prospective recruit on the coach’s institutional request list.

• Optional materials are sometimes asked for by top academic institutions like Cal Tech, MIT, and Johns Hopkins:

  • Student Resume: Prepare a student resume to highlight not only athletic achievements, but academic and extracurricular achievements as well.

  • Personal Statement/Essays: Write compelling personal statements or essays that showcase your passion for both academics and athletics, as well as your goals for the future.

What are the possible outcomes of a pre-read?

Coaches will inform their recruits if they are academically:

• Admissible

• Possibly admissible with changes (course changes, increased rigor, improved test scores)

• Not admissible

A positive pre-read usually results in a list of next steps for the recruiting process to proceed.