Updated October 24, 2007

PHOENIX, Arizona. In the early summer, SwimmingWorldMagazine.com profiled top swimmers in the class of 2008 in a Promising Seniors-To-Be series. Since the first installment of our updates, more visit schedules and verbal commitments have been announced via this news article.

Throughout the rest of the recruiting process, SwimmingWorldMagazine.com will continue to check in with next year's collegiate freshman class to see how recruiting is going.

Taylor Zafir; Wheaton/Warrenville South: Committed to Rutgers. Gives Rutgers a strong breaststroke specialists. Zafir owns Olympic Trials cuts in the 100 breast (1:12.08) and 200 breast (2:34.09) as well as the 400 IM (4;54.67). Also sports other top times of 2:14.09 in the 200 breast SCY, 4:18.02 in the 400 IM SCY and 2:20.81 in the 200 IM LCM. Zafir also competed in the NCSA All-American meet. (10/24/07)

College Recruiting can be the most exciting times of your life as well as the most stressful.  We asked Taylor questions about the process and how she came to a decision so that our members would have more information before they enter this process.

Wheaton Coaches = WC

Taylor Zafir = TZ

WC- How many visits does the NCAA allow and where did you visit?

TZ - Swimmers are allowed 5 official/paid visits.  An athlete can visit more schools but they have to pay for it themselves.  I visited Florida, Tennessee, Rutgers, North Carolina and Kansas

WC – How did you choose the schools you wanted to visit?

TZ- I tried to choose schools that had a good balance of academics, athletics and were in locations that I would like to live for the next 4 years.  Because of the NCAA training and swimming schedule many Division 1 swimmers decide to take summer school.  If I am going to live somewhere for 4 years I wanted to take into account the weather, location and if it was close to the things I am used to in my life right now.

WC-Do the schools contact you or do you contact them?

TZ- Both.  I had a lot of schools send me info in the mail but I was in charge of sending my info back so that they new I had interest in their school.  Some schools recruit their region only and will show interest after you contact them first.  It is always a good idea to contact the coach and schools that you are interested in during your Junior year no matter what your times.  Swimming is not like football where they have several people in charge of recruiting.  If you want to attend a school you should let them know.

  WC- What was the best part of your visits?

TZ-  I enjoyed meeting swimmers from all over the country.  I attended the basketball Mid Night Madness celebration at North Carolina and attended some of the best football games that have been played this season.  I also attended a party at Ryan Lochte's house which was fun because he is a World Record holder in the 200 back. The most fun part of each trip was touring the campus and getting to know the swimmers I only knew from meets.  You realize that swimmers from all different states have a lot in common when it comes to schedules and lifestyles.

  WC- What does it take to get a scholarship.

TZ-  It depends on your times, if they score at the NCAA meet, what the school needs.  Each team only gets 14 full scholarships and they split them up so that they can have over 25 kids on the team.  Each school is different each year.  If you live in state the scholarship is less costly then if you are from out of state.  It is a business and they all have a strict budget and scholarship limitations.  If the team needs a sprint freestyle swimmer and that is what you do, then you are in luck but if they already have several strong sprinters you may have to look at other options. 

  WC-Why did you pick Rutgers?

TZ- I liked all of the schools that I visited.  Every time I got home from a trip I wanted to go to the school that I had just visited.  In the end I used the following criteria to make a decision.  Value of degree, academic support, coach and teammates, Location and facilities and over all comfort level while staying on campus for the weekend.  In my case I have cousins who attend Rutgers and 20 family members who live within a 20 minute drive of the Rutgers campus.  The ability to share my experience with family was one of the things that put Rutgers at the top of my list.  I also like living near a big city like Chicago and I liked the fact that it is 30 minutes from New York City and 40 Minutes from Philidelphia.  Last but not least I really felt like I could have a long term impact on Rutgers swimming and that was something that I found very motivating.

  WC-What role did your parents play in your decision?

TZ- Chris and my Mom allowed me to choose my visits and take my trip alone.  They answered all of my questions however they wanted me to experience the colleges on my own because that is how it would be once I made a choice.   After my visits my Mom made a spread sheet for me that included a rating system with all of the important criteria that you think of when choosing a college.  She included every school and told me to fill it out and take a week to let things settle down and then decide where to go.  In the end it was 100% my choice however the things that I have learned from them over the years helped me decide what was the best long term decision for me.  Swimming will end in 4 years and I want to be prepared for the rest of my life.

  WC-What advice would you give swimmers who are beginning a college search?

TZ-I think most kids begin with the prettiest campus, looking for palm trees and for the school that is on tv the most.  My advice, whether you are swimming or not, is to visit the campus and to behave as if you are already attending school.  Try to get around, get some lunch and see how the food tastes on the meal plan and try to observe everything as if you live already there.  If you are swimming make sure you talk with current teammates.  Very often you will get your most honest answers from the students and swimmers.  If you listen to current swimmers' opinions you will have a good idea of how they like their college experience. Also get a copy of my Mom's spreadsheet! It allowed me to see things as they are and not what I wanted them to be.

  WC- What did you learn that you wish you knew before you started the recruiting process?

TZ- 1. Its a business! Never forget that it includes money which makes it business.  2. Division 1 swimming may include summer school and a fifth year of school.  Take into account the cost of the 5th year, make sure summer school is included in the scholarship and consider the fact that you are not just going to school for 4 years, you are choosing where you will live for four years.  Living in a place that makes you unhappy will make 4 years feel like 10 years.

  WC- What did you consider when they gave you a tour of the school and facilities?

TZ- I wanted to get around easily.  I will not have a car my freshman year and I did not want to have to take a bus to a train to get to class.  I wanted to enjoy campus life and I wanted to be able to walk to class as much as possible.  I also knew I would be at the pool quite a bit so I considered the weight room, training room, locker room and of course the pool.  I found that for the most part all the freshman dorm rooms are pretty much the same at every school.

WC- Before you went on your 5 visits what number was Rutgers on your list of where you thought you would go?

TZ- Ha ha... 4th out of 5.  My parents were shocked that I felt the most comfortable at Rutgers.  They thought I would go south and avoid the cold weather!  You will never know for sure until you visit and for gosh sakes go on all of your visits!  Many students end up living, working and raising a family in the state that they went to college.  The idea that I could end up living and working in New York was important to me when I made my final choice.

  WC- What role did Bob and Jake have in this process?

TZ-Coaches called and visited both of them.  Jake because he was my high school coach and Bob because he is my club coach.  Bob asked questions that otherwise would be hard for me to ask.  Things like training, tapering and about other which other recruits may go to the school.  Bob and Jake never tried to influence my choice but they did answer every question I asked.   All of my coaches were very positive and supportive. This was helpful because I visited 5 schools in 7 weeks, which at times left me tired and a little stressed.  If you ask Bob and Jake a question about a school they will tell you their experience with the school or coach (they may have had a swimmer who went there or have experience with the coach) Or they will contact the correct people to find out more info.

 WC-What is the NCAA clearing house and who has to do it?

TZ- Talk to your councilor at school right away.  You send in the clearing house info your Junior year.  Below (bottom of page) is some stuff one school sent me.

  WC- Any last thoughts about college or recruiting?

TZ- I felt impatient through the entire process.  If I had to do it all over I would relax and not focus on my final decision until I completed all of my trips.   At times I was driving myself nuts because I just wanted to pick a school and look forward to going there next year.  Swimming in college or not is a process, visit at least 4 schools, stay on campus, talk to the students and do not be afraid to ask questions.  Take the time that you need to feel comfortable with your decision.  Most of all HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND ENJOY YOURSELF.  Go Rutgers!

Links and Info that Taylor found helpful