Colleges and universities award about $1 billion in athletic scholarships to more than 126,000 student athletes each year. With the rising costs of higher education, it is increasingly important to prepare early for the scholarship-seeking process if student athletes wish to earn the largest possible piece of that financial pie. The biggest mistake a scholarship-hopeful can make is to apply too late or to fail to meet the proper application guidelines.
Step 1
Review the National Collegiate Athletic Association guidelines for student-athlete eligibility. Many colleges will require you to prove your eligibility as part of the scholarship application process. Each school and division will have its own application guidelines, so become familiar with what the sport and schools you are interested in require.
Step 2
Showcase your achievements with a resume that lists your athletic, academic and extracurricular achievements. Getting noticed and standing out from the crowd is part of the challenge to obtaining an athletic scholarship, so mention any involvement you have in your community and school, in addition to your sport. Once you have completed a resume featuring your accomplishments in chronological order, gather reference letters from coaches and teachers. If possible, capture video showcasing your athletic abilities.
Step 3
Introduce yourself to college coaches. Make a list of the colleges you would like to attend and send a letter of introduction to the coaches, mentioning your athletic achievements. You might even invite coaches to see you play. If you have a video showing you in action, include a copy along with your letter. You will still need to follow standard application procedures for each university, but making personal connections with the coaches will help you obtain an athletic scholarship. Start this introduction process in your freshman or sophomore year of high school and keep the coaches updated on your progress and accomplishments.
Tips and Warnings
- Academic scores matter. Even though you are seeking an athletic scholarship, academic scores are still very important. College coaches will want to see evidence that you will perform well academically because the NCAA requires teams to meet strict guidelines each year. If a college team fails to meet these requirements, the NCAA could reduce the number of scholarships the college can offer. Tailor your resume and essay to be school-specific. Show what you know about the school and athletic department, revealing why you desire to be a part of their college team -- not just any college team. Colleges and coaches receive many inquiries, so be patient in waiting for a response, but also be respectfully diligent in following up. If you have not heard from the coach within one month, follow up with a personal phone call.
- Keep close track of application deadlines and requirements. Submit your application early for scholarship consideration. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. In addition to seeking an athletic scholarship, research other possible scholarships and methods of financial aid.
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