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 little 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 old. Your chances of landing a scholarship decrease the longer you wait to attend college after high school graduation, so plan to go straight from high school to college.
2. The NCAA (National College Athletic Association) recognizes 29 sports; therefore scholarships are available for them depending on the campus. Men's sports include: Soccer, Baseball, Water Polo, Fencing, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor), Rifle, Basketball, Swimming and Diving, Golf, Football, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Lacrosse and Wrestling.
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. Recruiters don't always come to you. In fact most of the time, you have to make yourself known to collegiate coaches. One way to do so is to create a packet of information about your high school athletic career (a sports bio and media clips will do nicely) and make sure it reaches the coach about the same time that you are submitting the rest of your application materials.
4. Grades still come first. Although coaches ultimately make the decision about which athletes will be granted a scholarship, the decision 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 decision.
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.
1. Age matters! To qualify to play sports at the college level you must be between' and 24 years old. Your chances of landing a scholarship decrease the longer you wait to attend college after high school graduation, so plan to go straight from high school to college.
2. The NCAA (National College Athletic Association) recognizes 29 sports; therefore scholarships are available for them depending on the campus. Men's sports include: Soccer, Baseball, Water Polo, Fencing, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor), Rifle, Basketball, Swimming and Diving, Golf, Football, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Lacrosse and Wrestling.
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. Recruiters don't always come to you. In fact most of the time, you have to make yourself known to collegiate coaches. One way to do so is to create a packet of information about your high school athletic career (a sports bio and media clips will do nicely) and make sure it reaches the coach about the same time that you are submitting the rest of your application materials.
4. Grades still come first. Although coaches ultimately make the decision about which athletes will be granted a scholarship, the decision 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 decision.
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.
About the Author:
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.
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