Athletics and College Admission There is no doubt that athletics is a big part of many college communities and that a student who brings significant athletic talent to the college admission process will be of interest to college coaches. It is important for you to talk with your current coach to determine what kind of an impact you might make on a college team (NCAA Division I, II, or III) and whether you are interested in making the commitment to college athletics. If you plan to play an intercollegiate sport in college and want to communicate that to the college athletic department, we encourage you to do the following: 1. Check out the college website to see if there is an online athletic recruitment form and complete this to make an initial contact with the athletic department. This form may ask for athletic statistics or academic information comparable to an athletic resume (for example, see resume #1 on page 23). 2. Speak with your University Prep coach about the different colleges’ programs by the spring of your junior year. 3. Complete the prospective student athlete form on the websites for all the colleges where you plan to apply. 4. When you make plans to visit colleges, try to arrange a meeting with the coach or attend a practice. 5. Give your current coach and your college counselor a copy of your athletic resume and keep them informed of additional communication and correspondence. 6. Request a written recommendation from your University Prep coach, addressed to the college coach. It is often hard to determine whether or not you may be eligible to compete on the college level and which division is the best match for your athletic abilities. The www.ncaa.org website has useful information about each division. Any student who expects to be recruited for Division I or II college sports must register with the Eligibility Center by going to https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3. You can do this at
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the beginning of your junior year. Once you have registered, you must follow the directions carefully and bring the appropriate forms to the registrar, so that your transcript can be sent to targeted colleges. You can do this as early as the end of your junior year (after the completion of at least six semesters of high school work). We recommend registering no later than December of your senior year. SAT and ACT test scores must be reported to the NCAA Eligibility Center directly from the testing agency. When registering for the SAT or ACT, designate the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported directly to the Eligibility Center. Students interested in the possibility of playing at a Division III school do not have to register formally, but must adhere to the guidelines for student athletes. A word of caution: College coaches sometimes apply a bit of pressure. An “early” application can make their jobs easier. We urge you to resist coaching pressure. Talk with your family, with your University Prep coach, and with your college counselor before making any commitments. Remember that you, not the coach, are in charge of your future. Remember: Meeting the NCAA academic rules does not guarantee your admission into a college. You must apply for admissions.
Myth:
Athletics is the golden ticket for a student to gain admission to college.
Reality: Two percent of college students are in college on athletic scholarships. Athletics may be a plus factor, like being a legacy or a leader, but it never trumps a student’s transcript in terms of importance.
