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. Go straight to college after high school graduation. In order to be considered for an athletic scholarship, you have to be between' and 24 years old, so if you dilly dally for a year or two after high school, you might blow it. Most scholarships are awards to those who go to college the fall after getting your diploma.
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.
Female athletes have even more opportunities: Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor), Soccer, Tennis, Equestrian, Fencing, Synchronized Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Water Polo, Golf, Squash, Ice Hockey, Gymnastics, Archery, Lacrosse, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Rowing and Field Hockey.
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 talented (and lucky!) enough to secure financial support for your college expenses based on your ability to play sports, you should keep your eye on your major. While there are some college athletes who go on to lucrative careers in professional sports, the majority of them find work their chosen field and find a different kind of success.
1. Go straight to college after high school graduation. In order to be considered for an athletic scholarship, you have to be between' and 24 years old, so if you dilly dally for a year or two after high school, you might blow it. Most scholarships are awards to those who go to college the fall after getting your diploma.
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.
Female athletes have even more opportunities: Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor), Soccer, Tennis, Equestrian, Fencing, Synchronized Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Water Polo, Golf, Squash, Ice Hockey, Gymnastics, Archery, Lacrosse, Skiing (Cross Country and Downhill), Rowing and Field Hockey.
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 talented (and lucky!) enough to secure financial support for your college expenses based on your ability to play sports, you should keep your eye on your major. While there are some college athletes who go on to lucrative careers in professional sports, the majority of them find work their chosen field and find a different kind of success.
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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