Track and field is a sister sport of cross-country and requires a discipline and strength that some team sports lack. When colleges offer scholarships to athletes, they look at a variety of factors besides athleticism, and some scholarships are specifically based on the sex of the athlete.
Types
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the first place to look for scholarships if you are applying for undergraduate school. According to the official website, the NCAA awards $1 billion worth of scholarships every year. Individual colleges also award their own scholarships. Scholarships.com recommends that track and field athletes look into other organizations such as your local USA Track and Field chapter and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Applications
Most scholarships are applied for online, although some smaller organizations prefer a paper application be accompanied with a typed essay. Pay close attention to scholarship deadlines. In many cases, you will apply during your junior year of high school. Do not rule out private scholarships. By looking online or searching with the help of your career counselor, you can find local scholarships that are funded to any school. Many of these are gender-specific.
The Odds
Not all talented track and field female athletes are guaranteed athletic scholarships. Many factors are involved, some of which have nothing to do with your athletic prowess. For example, if a college is short on male track and field players, they are more likely to increase the number of scholarships available for men as an incentive to increase the male population. Also, College Scholarships.org points out that your chances of obtaining a scholarship dwindle if you hope to attend a large university. Your dream might be to compete for a large public school, but your life might also be easier if you have a chance of obtaining a free education in exchange for competing at a small college.
Considerations
Some college-bound students use athletic abilities to gaining scholarships. Although you might succeed at a sport such as track and field, colleges will also look for other qualifications when issuing scholarships. Academics are the primary factor aside from athletic abilities. Your dream might be to pursue athletics after school, but you are still accountable for decent grades throughout your college career. If you have poor to average grades in high school, your odds of being rewarded a scholarship are slim. When applying for a scholarship from a large school, other factors will help you stand out, such as standardized test scores, volunteer work and community involvement.
