We're excited that you are considering Missouri State University as a college choice.  If you just submitted a recruit questionnaire please take a few minutes to get familiar with the recruiting process as well as what is expected from you, both from Missouri State and the NCAA.  If you have not yet submitted a MSU recruit questionnaire click here to do so now and after you click submit you'll be brought back to this page.

Information For The College-Bound Student-Athlete:

All NCAA schools must follow a number of recruiting rules.  Below are some of the basics as well as some information to help you prepare for the recruiting process and your college decision.  In addition you can download the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for a complete list of rules and expectations.

Freshman Year:

The freshman year it may be a little early to start looking into colleges, but it's not too early to start planning for your future.  The NCAA has initial eligibility requirements and Missouri State has admissions requirements you need to prepare for.  Inform you high school guidance counselor that you intend to be a student-athlete in the NCAA so they can help you prepare.

Sophomore Year:

At the start of your sophomore year meet with your guidance counselor to be sure you are on pace to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements and Missouri State's admissions requirements.  Colleges may begin sending you questionnaires but not recruiting information.  You may request general admissions information from the university admissions office.  College coaches may not yet make calls to you or contact you off their college campus.  However, you may make unlimited calls to college coaches at your own expense and you are welcome to visit college campus.  Remember, if you leave a phone message college coaches may not return your call at this time.  If you would like to make a visit to Missouri State and visit with Missouri State's coaches during you are welcome you to do so.  These "Unofficial" visits are allowed at this time.  An unofficial visit simply means that the university does not pay for any of your expenses while you visit campus other than providing you with up to three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest in any sport.  Colleges can not provide "official" (expenses paid) visits during the sophomore year.  If you would like to visit Missouri State contact our coaches to set up a appointment.

Junior Year:

The junior year is an important year for college-bound student-athletes.  Be sure you are on pace to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements and Missouri State's admissions requirements.  The junior year is also the time to get registered with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.  "The Clearinghouse" is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine a student’s eligibility for athletics participation.  Students who want to participate in college sports during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the clearinghouse.  Go to NCAAClearinghouse.net for more information or see your high school's guidance counselor.  The junior year is also when college coaches will start looking closely at your athletic achievements.  This is a good time to organize your academic, athlete and extra-curricular achievements so you can provide those to college coaches.  Beginning September 1 of your junior year colleges may begin sending you recruiting materials.  If you have not yet done so you can request general admissions information from the Missouri State University Admissions Office.  During your junior year college coaches are still not allowed to make phone calls to you.  On your own you may make unlimited calls to college coaches, however, if you leave a message college coaches may not return the call until after July 1 after your junior year.  Starting July 1 after your junior year college coaches may begin making a phone call to you as often as once per week.  Be sure you have completed a recruit questionnaire prior to this time so Missouri State's coaches can contact you.  Also starting on July 1 college coaches may begin contacting you off campus; such as visiting you at your home or school.  If you would like to visit Missouri State's campus and visit with the coaches you may contact us and set up a campus visit during the junior year.  These visits must be "unofficial" meaning the college does not pay for any of your expenses other than three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest in any sport.  Colleges can not provide "official" (expense paid) visits until you have begun your senior year.

Senior Year:

As your senior year begins meet with your guidance counselor to make sure that upon graduation you will meet all NCAA initial eligibility requirements and Missouri State's admissions requirements.  This is also the time to apply for admission to Missouri State University.  Missouri State offers several forms of academic and need-based financial aid in addition to athletic scholarships.  There are application deadlines for several of Missouri State's academic and need-based financial aid options with most applications being due March 1 and some sooner.  Do not wait until college decision time to apply for admission to Missouri State as this delay may cause you to miss out on quality financial aid.  Athletic scholarships can be accepted verbally at any time and signing of the National Letter of Intent and scholarships occurs for the 2008 high school graduating class begins on February 6th, 2008.  If you have not yet registered with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse it is time to do so.  "The Clearinghouse" is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine a student’s eligibility for athletics participation.  Students who want to participate in college sports during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the clearinghouse.  Go to NCAAClearinghouse.net for more information or see your high school's guidance counselor.  Be sure you have competed MSU's recruit questionnaire.  If you have previously sent MSU's coaches a recruit questionnaire be sure to keep us updated on your achievements.  If we are not yet in contact with you feel free to contact us by e-mail or post mail to update us on your progress.  During the senior year college coaches may send recruiting materials anytime.  If you need to receive general admissions information you can request that information from the Missouri State University Admissions Office.  During the senior year, beginning with July 1 after the junior year, college coaches may make phone calls to you up to one time per week.  You may make unlimited calls to college coaches during the senior year.  If you call and leave a message college coaches may return the call but that return call counts against the college coaches one call per week limit.  College coaches may contact you off campus; such as visiting you at your home or school.  College coaches may not make off-campus contact with you or your parents more than three times during your senior year.  On the first day of your senior year of high school you may begin taking "official" visits to colleges.  On official visits colleges may provide you and your parents with travel expenses for things such as lodging, meals and entertainment during your visit.  You are limited to one official visit per college and no more than five official visits total to NCAA Division I or II schools.  There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits (unpaid) you may take and you may make both an official and unofficial visit to the same school on different dates. 

If you have questions about eligibility or recruiting you may ask a Missouri State coach or contact the NCAA at 317/917-6222.

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