recruiting visits: Do you pay or does the program?

[Anonymous]

I know that there is a difference between official and unofficial visits, etc.

Assuming you get invited to an official visit, do any of the costs get covered?

Thx

[Anonymous]

All of the costs should be covered.

[Anonymous]

Thx!

[Anonymous]

Schools pay for official visits, which are limited. You can pay for as many unofficial visits as you want.

This link might be helpful too.

https://collegeswimmingguide.com/college-swimming-happens-official-unofficial-visits/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that there is a difference between official and unofficial visits, etc.

Assuming you get invited to an official visit, do any of the costs get covered?

Thx

I think the Division matters, but maybe I am wrong?

[Anonymous]

In D3, the school did not pay. My DS stayed in the dorm and was permitted to eat in the dining hall, but my DH drove him to the school and my DH needed a hotel room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of the costs should be covered.

I think this varies. I know a swimmer who recently did an official visit and the school paid for the airfare to, but not the return fare.

[Anonymous]

This absolutely varies. Some division 1 mid-major schools will not have funds to pay for visits. Your kid just needs to ask. "How should I coordinate my travel?" Also, if a parent plans to go ask "My mom plans to come and look at the school while I'm there at her own expense, do you have suggestions where she should stay?" I add the second question because we actually booked a non-refundable hotel at one school that was drivable only to find out that the school had booked a room not just for our swimmer, but also for us (so we spent $ on our own reservation needlessly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This absolutely varies. Some division 1 mid-major schools will not have funds to pay for visits. Your kid just needs to ask. "How should I coordinate my travel?" Also, if a parent plans to go ask "My mom plans to come and look at the school while I'm there at her own expense, do you have suggestions where she should stay?" I add the second question because we actually booked a non-refundable hotel at one school that was drivable only to find out that the school had booked a room not just for our swimmer, but also for us (so we spent $ on our own reservation needlessly).

+1

There are some NCAA rules about what can be covered for who (I think there are recent changes, so I won’t lay anything out), and then there is what a program can/will offer to cover. I expect this is changing some with unlimited visits as well.

My 2024 went on official visits at Power 5 schools and everything was covered for the athlete. When parents accompanied, our flights were not covered, but accommodations and some meals were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools pay for official visits, which are limited. You can pay for as many unofficial visits as you want.

This link might be helpful too.

https://collegeswimmingguide.com/college-swimming-happens-official-unofficial-visits/

D1 official visits are no longer limited. It is still one official visit per school, but if a kid wants to try to schedule 6,7, 8+ visits, there is nothing stopping them.

[Anonymous]

My child paid nothing for D1 visits. Airfare, lodging and food stipend covered.

[Anonymous]

This is all very helpful, thank you!

- OP

[Anonymous]

It depends on the school. There’s not a ton of money for schools to bring out swim recruits.

My swimmer had official visits to a mix of ivy, sec, acc & big 10 schools. All expenses (travel, meals, outings, and housing) were paid, along with lodging and some meals for us parents. A teammate attended an official visit with a different D1 school and was told they’d reimburse travel expenses if they committed.

During one of the phone calls, my swimmer would always ask what expenses we were responsible for. None of the schools were uncomfortable with that question.