Girls Junior National Championships (GJNCs) and AAUs are just around the corner. It's a critical time in the recruiting process, and you need to ask yourself: are you prepared?

Juniors

Start deciding where to focus your energy. Have you been making the most progress with programs in Division I, II, III or NAIA? If you haven't started to visit college campuses, I highly recommend you start now. It's important for you to define the kind of institution that will work best for you. For example, do you want a small or large campus? Private or public? Close to home or far away? It's difficult to know what you want without being there in person.

If none of the schools you've been looking at seem like a good fit, you need to expand your search. Don't get caught up in the name game. Just because you've never heard of a school doesn't mean it can't be the perfect place for you. The only way to know is to figure out what you're looking for and see how each institution on your list matches up.

You also need to account for the volleyball program and coaching staff. Reach out to the coaches at the top schools on your list. This is especially important in the weeks leading up to nationals. College coaches only receive a few phone calls from recruits each week, so this is something that can help you stand out from the competition. Get tips on acing the phone call in last week's "Recruiting Solutions" column.

Depending on the exposure you received this season, you could be close to making a commitment. You might feel overwhelmed, confused and nervous about the decision, and that's totally normal. If you haven't committed yet, that's OK, too. Keep in mind, most athletes don't get picked up until their senior years. It's definitely not too late to get recruited.

Sophomores and Freshmen

If you have not begun the recruiting process, you need to do so now. I recommend developing a prospective list of college programs and putting together a video highlight reel. It's critical you send this video to coaches before GJNC or AAUs. You should be casting a wide net at this point. See where you generate interest and narrow your search from there. Make sure to tell the coaches you reach out to which season-ending tournaments you'll be playing in.

In next week's column, I will provide guidance on creating a prospective list of college programs.

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Kara Hill is a noted recruiting consultant and the founder of My Recruiting Solutions.