National Signing Day is here. Today, some players are signing National Letters of Intent to attend college, while others are continuing to go through the process of finding their landing spot at the next level.

From there, the journey of being a college athlete begins. But how do athletes know they’ve arrived at the right destination?

As a mentor to high school athletes across the country, Joe Irelan, a coach at La Jolla High School (Calif.), has been involved with the U.S. National Team program and has also spent time coaching in the college ranks.

He suggests looking more in-depth into what the school offers, both on and off the football field, with a focus on finding the right fit on and off the field.

“Picking the right school is most important because your education is the reason you’re going there, and your particular sport is second,” Irelan said. “The people are right up there too. The people and the relationships you build in a college is what you carry with you the rest if your life: the teachers, football coaches, academic support staff and the students.”

The third key is your connection to the football staff. Irelan thinks that some students will go to a school because it's a really good program, but they don't have a great relationship with the staff.

When things get tough, they want to leave. If you have a great relationship with the staff, they help you through tough times as a student. Keep in mind, however, that coaching staffs can—and will—change, so expect to have some new coaches during your career. Go out of your way to establish relationships with new coaches and begin to build strong bonds.

Next, according to Irelan, it’s critical that players research majors that they are interested in at whichever schools they are considering. Players should be sure that a school has the right degree in order to be successful after college, and take a look at what programs the institution has in place to help athletes achieve success in the classroom.

Lastly, make sure the school feels like a second home when you visit the first time.

“I think it’s very important to choose a city and state that you like, and maybe see yourself living there after college,” Irelan said. “Also, make sure the school is a place you can have fun.”

If you consider all these criteria, you should be able to identify the school that fits you best as an athlete, but more importantly, as a person.