The NCAA publishes an annual Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete that details everything the prospective student-athlete needs to know about college -- from eligibility, to recruiting, to financial aid. But there are many intangibles involved in whether a student-athlete "fits" in a particular athletics program that prospective student-athletes need to consider before making their final college choice.

Humans need to belong. Whether it is to a team, club, school or family, each person wants to feel connected in some way. For an optimal connection, it is imperative that all the components of an individual's personality find a balance. To be successful in life, it is important to balance one's mental, emotional, physical and spiritual sides. The balance of these is essential to maintain sanity and happiness at college, and especially vital for a college athlete.

One job of a college coach is to recruit the type of person who will be a successful athlete and student at the collegiate level. When recruiting athletes, coaches first appraise players based on their ability. After physical ability is determined, a coach must observe a player's character and personality and gauge whether there will be a fit within the framework of team chemistry.

When in high school and deciding on a college, a student tries to logically match his or her needs with a university's strengths. However, this still is a guessing game. A person will not know until he or she attends the school whether the match fits. When a potential collegiate athlete adds athletics to the list of variables in the decision-making process, more factors must be considered. An athlete tries to find a university to match his or her academic and athletics needs.

The most successful student-athletes are great time managers. To maintain sanity, a student-athlete must understand how to balance the time-consuming activities required: class, practice, weights, tutoring and studying, along with the basic eating, sleeping and social activities as well. It is important to lay out responsibilities before any deadline. Allot time to take care of schoolwork, and then enjoy and appreciate the time remaining for a social life.

So it is important to find that connection among an athlete, school and coach. A coach is the leader of the team and attempts to make the best decisions for a team's success.

In the area of academics, students must critique a school based on the major programs they offer. It is important to first identify their personal study habits in order to properly connect.

Emotionally, a student-athlete must be able to deal with the everyday pressures and demands of student-athlete life. One of the biggest challenges facing college athletes is arriving at college and not playing all the time, as they did in high school, or realizing they are not "the best," like they have been all of their lives. This is a huge reality check for many college athletes. It is never fun to sit the bench. But an athlete must be emotionally strong enough not to give up and keep working for playing time.

College often is the first time a student is out on his or her own, away from parents. It has its benefits, because there is no adult to check in with in order to go somewhere. However, there is no one at the dorm who takes care of troubles, like parents do. The changes from high school to college will make the strong grow or the weak crumble.

Athletes have to be smart enough to know that they are at college to first get an education. Taking pride in education shows perseverance in character. As for the physical demands, high-school experiences or a club-league experiences can help prepare the body for college-level athletics, but daily practices at that level do not compare to what the student-athlete will experience in a collegiate environment. Athletes are expected to give complete effort for every second in practice. Coaches are demanding. Lack of effort is simply not tolerated.

A college degree is a great achievement. The road to a degree is tough, and it does take a special individual with self-motivation and strong determination to succeed. Being smart alone will not get a student-athlete through college. In addition, a student-athlete must be a hard worker and use the resources provided to help achieve success. There is no way to "slide by" and rely on others to do the work.

The ultimate goal for everyone is to set up a win/win situation between a student-athlete and an athletics and academic program at a university. That's not something anyone who is thinking about attending college can learn from a book, but it is something that every aspiring student-athlete should take seriously before making a commitment.

Kele Eveland is the starting setter on the Georgia Institute of Technology women's volleyball team.