Should I? Shouldn’t I? And When?

I recently participated in the inaugural Long Island Tennis Expo, hosted by Long Island Tennis Magazine at Farmingdale State College, and the USTA College Showcase held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Both events were well-attended by hundreds of families with the intentions of having their children play collegiate tennis. The two most surprising things I learned from speaking with a multitude of parents at both locations was that many, if not most, were not aware that help was available to them through the use of a college tennis advisor. In a time where children grow up, from a very early age, using subject tutors, SAT tutors, private tennis coaches and trainers, the thought of seeking help with one of the biggest decisions a tennis family faces had not been considered. Just from an economic standpoint alone, utilizing a college tennis advisor makes a great deal of sense. It’s the logical last step in a process that starts when your child first picks up a racquet at four or five years old. Misinformed decisions can be extremely costly, not to mention could lead to a terrible collegiate experience. It’s one thing if you have gone through the process with a previous child and feel comfortable enough with the process you employed to use it again for a second or third child. However, if this is your first go around with the collegiate experience, you should strongly consider hiring a college tennis advisor who can help you navigate the process efficiently and arm you with the key questions and information needed to uncover the best fit, both academically and athletically.

As a final note, during the course of the two events, a number of parents with children who were seniors expressed that they wished they had known about me and the services I provided a few years earlier. They acknowledged the amount of stress and anxiety they had experienced in the search, and how I could have relieved them of that part of the process. For any of you starting the process or considering whether hiring a collegiate tennis advisor is right for you, I suggest you utilize my “Ask the Advisor” portal at Advisor@AdvantageTennisStrategies.com. Feel free to e-mail me any question you may have related to college tennis or the process of finding the right school. E-mails received are answered within 24 hours. Oftentimes, the answer to one question provides all the clarity you need to make the right decision or leads you in the right direction. You don’t have to go at it alone, help is on the way.