The college search for athletes is a marathon, not a sprint, and the recruiting process can be, at times, both exhilarating and uplifting, especially when your personal plan is working on all cylinders. That said, even the best executed plans can run into road blocks or even stall completely.

Effective communication between prospects and college coaches can be a critical component in the final choice in the college search for high school athletes. That being the case, prospects should try to cultivate this skill early on in an effort to demonstrate their willingness to be an equal partner in the coach-prospect relationship.

Summer is right around the corner and for every prospect that is in the hunt to match his or her talent with the right college program, opportunity approaches. Summer opens up more time on the daily schedule and with that, the chance to close in on some key elements of the college search.

The average cost of a 4 year college experience has increased dramatically during the past 10 years and financial aid is becoming a hot topic in the college search for athletes. Competition for athletic scholarships is fierce and for some student-athletes and families (particularly nearly all male gymnasts and all walkons/Division III/Ivy League athletes), they also need to look at need-based financial assistance or alternative forms of grants and scholarships to help pay the freight. This article takes a simple approach in identifying key components of financial aid.