Announcement
By Michelle Valenti
Each year more than $1 billion is awarded to over 126,000 student-athletes across the country. While there is no guarantee of getting a scholarship, there are ways to increase your chances. Get ahead of the class with this guide on how to cover your college expenses by doing what you love.Where do I start?
Start by registering with the NCAA eligibility center. Although there is no deadline, the NCAA recommends that you register early--by the start of your junior year. And be sure to update your participation information regularly. For specific information on eligibility requirements refer to the college-bound student-athlete guide available at NCAA.org.
Your second priority is to make sure you are taking the right steps and following all the rules outlined by the NCAA. Familiarize yourself with the academic and amateurism requirements in the college bound student athlete guide, and be sure that you are on track to meeting them. Academic refers to your grades, GPA, test scores and core classes. Amateurism refers to your status as an amateur versus any interaction you have had on the professional level.
Keep in mind that athletic scholarships are awarded through the colleges, not through the NCAA. Once you have chosen a handful of schools that you are interested in, you should find out what the individual schools' requirements and application procedures are in addition to the requirements outlined by the NCAA.
Notice that requirements are different for division I and division II schools: division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships so check with the institution you plan to attend.
How do I choose between Division I, II or III schools?
You should evaluate your talent honestly and select a number of schools that suit your athletic ability and that interest you academically. Make a list of schools that include dream colleges, realistic options and fallback schools.
Can I get a scholarship if I am attending a Division III school?
Since division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, you don't have to register with the eligibility center. If you are interested in a division III school, you should contact the coach and the institution to find out what their requirements are.
Although division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, they will most likely help you find funding from other sources if they really want you to play for their school. The better your grades and test scores, the more money you will likely receive.
How can I get my hands on some of those unclaimed scholarships that people are talking about?
"There is the perennial rumor that 'millions of dollars go unclaimed each year' but that is usually unfounded and pertains to non-athletic scholarships that might have very specific criteria," says Sue Biemeret, a college consultant at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
For example, there are scholarships for students with a particular surname; if no one applies to that college with that surname, the scholarship may go unused that year.
That said, there are scholarships out there that are not well-known. Some sports are less popular and less competitive than others. If you play two sports--or think you could pick up a less popular sport--start thinking about which one will more likely put you through college. It might be easier to get a scholarship for rowing or golf than for soccer.
Sara Allen played both soccer and lacrosse in high school. During her freshman year, she realized that there was more of a demand for female lacrosse players then for soccer players at the college level. She continued to play both sports in high school but focused her recruiting and scholarship efforts towards lacrosse. It paid off. She received a full ride to The University of Richmond in Virginia.
Women's sports that are defined by the NCAA as emerging sports are intended to provide additional athletic opportunities to female student-athletes. They are new and therefore less popular. Emerging fall sports for women include archery, badminton, equestrian, rugby, squash, synchronized swimming and team handball.Start your scholarship search locally. Ask teachers, guidance counselors, church and community leaders, parents and their employers, and use the library and the internet to find privately funded awards.
Websites like collegescholarships.org have a list of Scholarships you don't want to miss when you browse their site by sport, and fastweb.com provides a free online scholarship database.
Also check with your perspective schools to find out what scholarships they offer in addition to the athletic ones.
Finally, the NCAA offers a number of special interest scholarships including the Freedom Forum NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship program for college juniors interested in a career in sports journalism.
Will a scholarship cover me for all 4 or 5 years of college?
Scholarship amounts vary for each athlete. They can range from a partial scholarship that only covers books to a full ride that covers tuition, room and board. Athletes can receive a maximum of five years of funding over a six-year period.
They are awarded on a yearly basis and renewed annually. The amount that you receive each year is based on your performance and a year-end evaluation; it does not hinge on how much you received the previous year and a renewal is not guaranteed. Find out up front what parameters you will be evaluated on at the end of the year and be sure that you are striving to achieve them.
Can I supplement my athletic scholarship with other aid? And is there a limit to how much money I can get from a school--athletic and otherwise?
This fluctuates by school. Some schools have limitations on how much you can supplement an athletic scholarship and some have caps on how much money you can accept in total.
Can a recruiting service increase my chances of getting a scholarship?
Recruiting services specialize in marketing student athletes to college coaches. The NCAA, however, does not endorse any of these services. Beware that it is not permissible for a service to offer a money-back guarantee or base its fee on the amount of a student's scholarship.
Most of the tools and information you need are already available online, and through the NCAA, as long as you are willing to do the research.
Although scholarship matching services aren't endorsed, resume and video-building tools can be a great asset. They provide a forum where you can feature your stats and video clips, and a place where you can direct coaches to view your profile.
What could jeopardize my chance of getting a scholarship?
A number of things can bring your scholarship dreams to a dead end. These include but are not limited to the following.
Playing for a professional team
Receiving prizes or money for athletics
Doing drugs
Participating in illegal sport's betting
Accepting gifts or money from prospective coaches
Signing or having an agreement with an agent before eligibility expires
Additional red flags can be found at NCAA.org as well as information on rules of conduct.
Get started now. By the time you have to choose a school and apply for scholarships, you will know what your options are. Get yourself out there: attend camps, compile a resume or info sheet, make your video, visit schools, introduce yourself to coaches and know the rules.
Most importantly, don't rely on others to do the work for you. Seek out scholarships on your own. Figure out what schools you are interested in, find out what they offer, and apply, apply, apply. Remember, you have to work just as hard at finding the right school, and potential scholarships, as you do when you are on the field.
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