Choosing a College
College choice and application process for athletes
For high school students going on to play college sports, the process of choosing and applying to colleges may include the following steps beyond the usual application process:
- Getting clear about what level of play to aspire to. If you are working with a student who wants to get a scholarship to play a Division I sport, talk with his or her coach to see if the plans are realistic.
- Attending summer sports camp at a college of interest. The college coach will see the student play, and the student can check out the feel of the campus.
- Registering with the NCAA Clearinghouse (athletes who aspire to NCAA Division I or II schools). See NCAA Clearinghouse Basics.
- Sending letters of interest to colleges they think are a good fit (sophomore and junior year).
- Keeping good records of contact with college coaches. The details of every meeting should be written down to avoid confusion later.
- Preparing an athletic resume with three sections: basic information about the student, sports statistics, and academic record. Students should keep track of athletic statistics starting in ninth grade and have an up-to-date resume by the end of their junior year.
- Submitting a videotape that portrays the athlete in a competitive contest, and showcases his or her skills. Accompany the tape with a statistics summary.
- Using a special application—marked with a code—supplied by the college's athletic department. Students given such an application must use it—it tells the admissions office that the athletic department is interested in the student.
Topics to cover when discussing the college application process
Stress to students that athletic participation is only part of the college choice decision. Ask students how they would feel about this college if they couldn't play (perhaps because of injury) or decided not to play.
Make sure they also know that athletic eligibility does not guarantee admission. The admissions committee—not the college coach—decides whether students are admissible.
Students may not be clear whether contact from a college coach means they are being recruited. Suggest they ask the coach three questions:
- Are you recruiting me?
- Do I fit the accepted student profile at your college?
- Am I likely to be admitted?
Urge students to look at colleges' team rosters (these are usually posted on the college website) for information: for example, how many players a team has for each position and the athletic stats of the players.
Advise students to look at the graduation rate of athletes at the colleges they plan to attend. A lower graduation rate may indicate that the college accepts student athletes whose academic abilities aren't up to par, or that the life of the athlete on that campus is not conducive to academic success.
Tell students to take note of what percentage of the student population is made up of athletes, and to consider whether they want to attend a school where athletes are a large presence or a small minority.
Remind students that if they play sports in college, they will be spending a lot of time with the coach. They should feel a rapport with the coaches at the colleges they are applying to.
Warn students about scouting and recruiting services that offer to "package" students for maximum appeal to colleges. The NCAA does not sanction or endorse any of these firms.
When to apply
Student athletes also may face special considerations in application timing. For example, because NCAA Division I and II coaches can't contact students until July 1 before senior year, students playing spring sports who hope to participate in Division I or II events must reach out to college coaches in time for the coach to watch them play in spring of their junior year—or plan to attend sports camp the summer between junior and senior year, the peak recruiting time for their sports. And these students may need to commit to a college as early as November of their senior year.
College coaches eager to secure their athletes may urge students to apply early decision. Students who are considering applying early should know the rules and obligations of early decision programs. Some student athletes delay college entrance by a year. A thirteenth year or postgraduate program in high school can allow them to mature mentally, bring grades and test scores up to speed, and gain weight and strength. Division rules are complex about how grades for this year count toward eligibility. Any student considering this option should seek expert advice.
Students may transfer from a two- or four-year college to an NCAA college. Students must meet eligibility requirements to participate in sports or receive financial aid at that college. Download the NCAA Transfer Guide (.pdf) from the NCAA website.