Recruiting timeline if you finish high school in December

Published October 31, 2026

If you finish high school in December and want to start college in August, the recruiting process begins about two years earlier. This is the order of steps, based on the eligibility guide and the typical path of an international athlete.

Two years before graduating

Create your free profile in the NCAA Eligibility Center (Profile Page), which gives you the NCAA ID, and the NAIA one if you are interested. Start building your video and looking at universities of different levels.

A year and a half before

Ask your school for your transcript or certificate of subjects and grades, and find out how to get the official English translation. Add an English test and, if it applies, the SAT. Build your list of universities with ambitious, realistic and safety programs.

When the emails start

Email 30 to 50 programs that match your level, with a short email in English, your video and your data. Follow up after 10 to 14 days with something new. Division I coaches have sport-specific dates to contact you (for most sports, June 15 after your sophomore year; see the dates by sport), but you can show your interest earlier. See the guide to emailing a coach.

When a coach gets serious

Move to the paid Eligibility Center account if it is Division I or II (USD 170 for international athletes) and upload your documents. Ask for the offer in writing: amount, duration, renewal and expenses that are not covered.

When you graduate

Send the final certificate and proof of graduation: without them the evaluation cannot be closed. Plan to enroll the following August: in Division I the five-seasons-in-five-years clock starts with your first full-time enrollment or the year you turn 19, and a long gap year can cost you seasons.

Always

Confirm current rules on the official NCAA and NAIA websites, and review the amateurism part of the eligibility guide if you played for a club with a professional team.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start if I finish high school in December?

About two years before graduating: create your Eligibility Center profile and start your video and list of universities.

When does college start in the U.S.?

Classes begin in August, or in January for the second semester.

Can I take a gap year before going?

In Division I it can cost you seasons, because the five-year clock keeps running even if you do not play.

How many programs should I email?

The usual advice is to email 30 to 50 programs that match your level, with follow-ups.