How to get Recruited to be a D1 Athlete - Tips from an NCAA Champion

[@DianaDaymond]

HI Kyle... Your videos are fantastic. I am an Independent College Counselor and for the past year, I have been recommending your videos to my potential college swimmers. From your videos about the business school we know you are an excellent student and super thorough so you as a matter of course actually started the recruiting process well before your step 1: Be persistent. You had done the self reflection and research to realize the criteria you were looking for in a college, you had done your work in the pool to be fast enough for a Div. 1 program and you had researched which college teams and campuses which would be a good fit. I would like to offer that these items are actually the first steps in being recruited in a DIV 1 program. Only after this preparation work is done is a potential recruit ready for your steps 1-3. I mention this because I see so many aspiring college athletes who are Juniors, hoping to be recruited but have no idea if they are at the right level, which teams might be a good fit or even what they are looking for in a college... They start the recruiting process with literally over 100 colleges on their list. . It would be GREAT to see your video on the work you did before you got to the Step 1 talked about here. Thanks!!! Diana

[@KyleMillis]

100 colleges is a big list. Not many colleges have Men’s swim teams so my list was way narrower than that. From there I made that sticky note on the whiteboard list ranking them by the 4 criteria

[@CameronBrown-i9e]

Your presentations are always perfect: Boardroom meets board shorts.

[@marcosricopeng]

Wish I had this video when I was getting recruited but I guess everything turned out well haha super informative!

[@KyleMillis]

Thanks Marcos! You da 🐐 so you don’t need these tactics

[@joshswimz3890]

Great tips! I’m just too slow at the moment for Power 1 D1 😂

[@KyleMillis]

Hey these tips can be applied to all levels of college sports!

[@joshswimz3890]

@@KyleMillis true that!

[@laurenbraswell97]

My favorite Freshman! Look at you! Fantastic video every high school athlete should see this. I am very proud of you

[@KyleMillis]

Thanks for the support, Coach 😉

[@richschiavo]

Interested in learning more about the recruiting process ..

[@KyleMillis]

I have plenty of videos about it - more to come too!

[@j.r.4111]

✅ Your presentations are always perfect: Boardroom meets board shorts.

[@PodClipx10]

Thank you! This was a big help.

[@KyleMillis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@waltergnerre]

Great video brother, thank you

[@KyleMillis]

You are very welcome

[@shibgu9337]

such a good and explanatory video Kyle thanks!!

[@KyleMillis]

Of course! Thanks for all your support!

[@matthewjensen9043]

Thanks for the help. Maybe if I follow your advice I can get some responses from coaches.

[@KyleMillis]

Matthew Jensen transferring?! @SwimSwam?!

[@grantsorrells9924]

Thank you!!!! I can’t thanks you enough

[@KyleMillis]

Of course! Glad you learned something.

[@darrylkamgang6713]

Do you have an idea on how to do it from Canada just asking your video is very interesting and informative

[@NateDawgOfficial]

Cal wont respond to my emails 😂😂

[@KyleMillis]

Persistence! Keep up the good work in the pool and they will notice you.

[@srijam1]

what grade r you in?

[@harshchaurasia5869]

Hey, Kyle! That was really an informative video! I was wondering if this process is any different for graduate admissions. If possible, could you make a video on that, too? It would be extremely helpful. Since I'm not from the US, I don't have much idea about how these things work. Thanks in advance!

[@KyleMillis]

It probably will vary as it will depend a lot more on what tests you have to take to get into certain graduate programs (gmat, mcat, etc). I don’t know much more about it, it probably depends a lot based on the program as not many people come to the US and swim in college for graduate school, however, definitely possible.

[@andrewwong8928]

Awesome video! Super helpful!!

[@seanbaudoin5960]

Thanks bro this helps a lot

[@KyleMillis]

Glad you enjoyed it! Let me know how your results turn out with the tactics

[@ali135_2]

Amazing!

[@derrickreyes1690]

CKILLA!!!!!

[@andrewlardieri4110]

Your channel is sick

[@KyleMillis]

Thanks so much Andrew!!

[@mikehunt8753]

Hi, were you good academically? Did it help with your process? What were your SAT scores and GPA?

[@antholic3786]

This is my senior year (23) as i am taking a gap year i was wondering if it was too late to get recruited as a student athlete . i was wondering if it is late as i may start just about now

[@victavolleyball6575]

Hi Kyle! Great Video! Both my parents went to Cal btw (Go Bears!). I'm starting the recruiting process for Volleyball and am wondering how you dealt with social media interaction with recruiters/colleges. Are you using social media in a more personal way or keeping content strictly to your sport/major? Also did you also seek out academic advisors at these colleges in parallel to the coaches? I'm trying to figure out how the pieces will fit together between the academic and sports sides. Thanks!

[@katiewilliams5643]

What made you decide Cal over IU for swimming just wondering I’m gonna be 44 in august and when I was in high school I was told no I couldn’t compete and now University of indianapolis is now taking walk ons over 20 plus years after I graduated high school it’s crazy I’m gonna re evaluate my swimming in the fall I’m slowly getting back to the pool I’ve had sore tendons in my left shoulder I’m gonna have to ice it tonight but I’m ok with That I love your videos I hope you’ll do more with Nathan. Adrian do you have thoughts about training for the 2024 Olympic trials in Paris.

[@KyleMillis]

Loaded statement. I won’t be training for the 2024 Paris Olympics but thanks for all of your support!

[@derrickreyes1690]

CKILLA!!!?!

[@KyleMillis]

That’s my cousin, Caroline!! She’s the best!

[@charlottesmith5504]

thank you so so much for this video! im an aussie trying to play d1 volleyball at college in fall 2023, and most of my emails have been unanswered! when following up, what do we say to make it not sound awkward and desperate?

[@KyleMillis]

It's never awkward, it's the coaches job to get emails like that, they understand it is uncomfortable but it never hurts to ask.

[@evelync2627]

Hello Kyle, Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. However, I am an international student who just finished my junior year of high school and have gone through a COVID wave the last few months. I have reached out to many schools for many months but it just seems that since I have had so many disruptions to my training and I haven't been able to race since January, they have sort of ignored me. It seems sort of late in the process for me now and it feels like most schools that I want to go to are already done with their recruiting process. Do you have any tips on how I could get recruited and swim for a D1 team? Thanks :)

[@KyleMillis]

Of course! Just explain your situation to the coaches you’re reaching out to. Plenty of people are dealing with the effects of the pandemic and plenty are understanding of situations holding you out of the pool.

[@sophie2870]

Great video as always. I'm a swimmer but I am currently in highschool in Europe (16yo). I'm planning to study in USA in the future. Is it possible to get recruited as an international student and should I already start the recruiting process? I would really appreciate your help.

[@KyleMillis]

For sure! Depending on you year in high school, if you’re a junior or higher, I’d start reaching out. As I mentioned in the video, similar process for international students.

[@sophie2870]

@@KyleMillis thank you so much! I would also like to ask if there are any specific times in events ,for both men and women, that would signify I'm a prospective candidate

[@joshuaporter8535]

Your cousin is Caroline knop?!?!?!

[@KyleMillis]

Yep! Volleyball fan?

[@joshuaporter8535]

@@KyleMillis YESSSSS

[@livelovecarti]

what was your gpa in high school?

[@KyleMillis]

My HS didn’t do weighted grades Unweighted I was like 3.7 I think?? However, if you’re a recruited athlete, you do get a lot of assistance in the application process at many D1 schools.

[@cora.brielle]

im homeschooled. does that limit my chances of getting noticed? (i play volleyball)

[@KyleMillis]

Make sure to take the SAT/ACT is my best advice to help college coaches benchmark you academically. Lots of volleyball scholarships available! Keep up the great work!

[@alejandralemus8670]

Hey Kyle! I'm an international student and my college counselor told me that it was easier to get on the team if i was accepted by the school first, sort of like "get accepted by the school and then wait for tryouts" its this a reliable process or should I email coaches and see if the normal recruiting process works out? Also I've already received some offers from D2, and D3 schools but i do not want to accept anything until i feel that i will not receive any better offer from a mayor program, is this alright? Thx for these vids :)

[@KyleMillis]

That works as well! However, if you email the coach, they could potentially get you into the school as a preferred walk on helping w the admissions department.

[@cageynerd]

WTF are you talking about... California and Texas are the two top swimming programs -- they literally dominate...

[@akselholden6772]

What is your pb on your best stroke, in 50 meters pool? Btw good video! Thanks for the help🙌

[@KyleMillis]

My best 100 backstroke in an Olympic pool (50m) is a 56.1