4 Common Misconceptions in the Recruiting Process
Tennis player Linn Goerdes shares insights on the college recruiting process and the most common assumptions
Securing a sports scholarship in the United States begins with the recruitment process. This journey can take several months—or even years if you want to be fully prepared—as athletes build their profiles, connect with university coaches, and complete all the paperwork required to study and compete abroad.
Many young athletes enter this process with certain misconceptions about how recruitment actually works. To shed some light on this, we spoke with Linn Goerdes, an accomplished tennis player at the University of North Georgia. Linn earned her tennis scholarship thanks to her impressive results on the court, including national tournament wins in Germany and appearances at international WTA events.
At the Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase, we caught up with Linn to discuss her experience of the US college recruiting system and the most common assumptions student-athletes make.
Common misconceptions:
- “It’s all about the Division” – Success isn’t only found at Division I universities.
- “The recruitment process is easy” – It’s far more complex than just sending a few emails.
- “Talent is enough” – Academics, discipline, and attitude matter just as much.
- “No offers yet means I’m not good enough” – Timing and patience are crucial to securing opportunities.
1. “It’s All About the Division”
College sport in the US is organised under three main athletic bodies: the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Each has its own divisions, based on university size, funding, and level of competition. With over 1,000 NCAA member institutions across all divisions, there is a wide range of opportunities depending on your goals and priorities. Learn more about the differences in college sports divisions.
Some athletes assume that the only path to success is through Division I. Linn once believed this too, but she soon discovered that focusing solely on the division is misleading. It’s more about finding the right fit for your academic and athletic journey.
“At first, I was confident I’d go to a big Division I school; I thought it would be easy. I always wanted to go to Harvard, and I believed I could get in because I was academically strong. Then I realised it’s actually very difficult to be accepted by Ivy League universities.
The biggest surprise was discovering just how many universities you could consider. The difference between some Division I and Division II schools isn’t as big as people think. My university is Division II, and we’re ranked third in the nation. Some Division I schools I spoke to weren’t even ranked, and I wanted to compete at nationals.
A lot of athletes I’ve met only focus on Division I and ignore everything else, even if the school itself isn’t a good match. I think you should pay more attention to the ranking of the team and, just as importantly, how you would feel at that university.”
2. “The Recruiting Process Is Easy; I Can Do It Myself”
Many athletes assume the recruiting process will be quick and straightforward. In reality, without the right guidance, it can be overwhelming. The paperwork, eligibility rules, visa requirements, and academic checks can be confusing for both athletes and families to handle alone. Having expert support makes a huge difference—it helps ensure you find the right university while staying eligible to compete.
“I honestly thought the process would be much easier. I imagined you just contact coaches, send a few emails, and they either like you or they don’t. I thought I could manage it all by myself.
What surprised me most was the paperwork—things like applying for the visa and translating transcripts. I didn’t expect it to be that complicated, and without Keystone Sports I don’t think I would have managed.
At my international school, I even had problems with credit hours and transcript translations. I wouldn’t have known where to go or what to do on my own, so I was really glad I had that support.”
3. “Recruiting Is Just About Talent”
Another common misconception is that recruiting depends only on sporting results. While performance is key, coaches also look closely at grades, discipline, and character.
Without meeting academic standards, you may not even be eligible to join certain universities or divisions. To compete in NCAA Division I, student-athletes must maintain at least a 2.3 GPA. For Division II, the minimum requirement is 2.2. These academic benchmarks are just as important as sporting achievements.
“Academics were really important, especially since I wanted to study pre-med. I didn’t take the SAT, but I had to do the Accuplacer, which is a kind of replacement test. You need a certain score to get into your major or even to be accepted into the university.
That was tough for me—even though I had a 4.0 GPA and had already secured a scholarship. For example, my maths score wasn’t great, so I had to take a basic maths class in my first year.
Coaches definitely care about academics; they want to see discipline in school. The NCAA also has strict GPA requirements. At my university, the coaches really emphasised keeping good grades and attending classes. I even remember one teammate who didn’t hand in an assignment and had to run ten miles as punishment instead of training. Academics are definitely part of the bigger picture.”
4. “No Offers Yet Means I’m Not Good Enough”
Recruitment takes time, and the timeline looks different for every athlete. Linn stressed how important it is not to panic if offers don’t arrive right away.
“The period where I wasn’t getting any offers was really hard. I had dedicated my life to tennis, and I started to doubt myself. I kept asking, why don’t they like my video? Is my ranking too low? I began questioning whether I was good enough.
But once I spoke to my Keystone Sports consultant, he explained I was actually very early in the process. He told me some players commit just a month before, and I still had a year ahead. That reassurance helped me slow down and be more patient.
Then suddenly, offers started coming in all at once. My consultant made sure I knew I wasn’t too late—it just takes patience.”
Want to Get a Sports Scholarship in the US?
Linn’s story shows that successful recruitment is about more than just talent—it requires planning, persistence, and the right guidance.
At Keystone Sports, we support athletes through every stage of the process: from understanding the different divisions, to navigating eligibility, paperwork, and finding the university that fits both academically and athletically. With over 15,000 student-athletes guided so far, we’re Europe’s leading college sports recruiting agency.
With the right support, your dream of playing college sports in the United States is within reach. Complete our free evaluation form today, and one of our experts will be in touch.
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About the author
Lorena Montañés
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