Are You a Candidate for an Athletic Scholarship?
With college costs increasing at a hefty 6.5% every year, it just might pay to look into yet another way to augment student loans, grants and financial aid – the athletic scholarship. There’s a whopping $1.2 billion available for collegiate sports scholarships every year. Since the average cost of attending a four-year public university is nearly $80,000 every small bit helps, right? Here are a few things every high school athlete should know as they get started on their college selection process:
1. Age matters! To qualify to play sports at the college level you must be between’ and 24 years ancient. Your chances of landing a scholarship decrease the longer you wait to attend college after high school graduation, so plot to go straight from high school to college.
2. There are 29 sports recognized by the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) The women’s list is a small longer and includes: Archery, Water Polo, Volleyball, Basketball, Bowling, Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor), Cross Country, Tennis, Equestrian, Fencing, Synchronized Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Field Hockey, Golf, Squash, Softball, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Rowing and Rifle.
The men’s sports are: Wrestling, Baseball, Water Polo, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor), Tennis, Fencing, Swimming and Diving, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Rifle, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Lacrosse and Soccer.
3. Unless you and your athleticism has already become a household name in your region, don’t count on a recruiter finding you. Instead, prepare a sports portfolio of your efforts and make sure that it gets on the desk of the coach you are trying to play for at the college level. A bio of your life in sports and as many newspaper and/or broadcast TV clips of your highlights will be fine.
4. Grades still come first. Although coaches ultimately make the choice about which athletes will be granted a scholarship, the choice isn’t based on athleticism alone. Far from it, in fact. Did you know that you have to be accepted by the admissions board prior to being considered? Your SAT score, as well as your high school GPA and other materials in your application packet all factor into the coach’s choice.
If you are lucky enough to land a full athletic scholarship, you have some thinking to do. College sports, while exciting, aren’t a golden ticket toward a lucrative professional sports contract after graduation. You’ll need to choose a major in a field that holds your interest so that you can launch a career outside of sports once you hang up your cleats (racket, swim cap, whatever). Success comes in many forms, so be ready for everything that life might bring.
John Barnett is a high school baseball and soccer coach. He earned a masters degree at an online college and is considering several online colleges for additional study.