Athletic Scholarships - What you need to know

You are on the final stretch - after all the early practices, miles driven to games and tournaments, booster clubs, camps, and extra training, your student athlete is starting to receive interest from college coaches.   I played Division 1-AA football, and remember the excitement of receiving letters from schools, going on official visits, and meeting with coaches.  Just remember, all the smiles & kind words during recruiting will (most likely) turn to scowls & curses when your child shows up for pre-season camp.

Here are some key tips to help guide your decision making:

• Be realistic - schools are recruiting the size, speed, and skill at the position they need
  • Look at some team rosters for your sport - how does your child compare?
  • Paid recruiting services often overpromise and underdeliver - save your money unless you are already getting some interest
  • Coaches want to win first - if they recruit someone better, the new athlete will play.
• Pick the best academic fit, not the best sports program
  • Athletes get injured and disillusioned, and miss out on the full college experience 
  • Change of coaching staff could mean your athlete no longer fits 
  • Scholarships may not be guaranteed all four years
• What it means to play at each level
  • Division 1A
    • Full scholarships for head count sports (basketball, football, women's volleyball, tennis, gymnastics)
    • Sports training year round, your child may never see the field/court
  • Division 1AA
    • May not offer scholarship or merit based aid
  • Division 2
    • Limited number of partial scholarships
    • Sports training during the entire school year
  • Division 3
    • No athletic scholarships, typically offer financial aid plus merit
    • Sports training limited to the season

If you want to learn more about this, check out the Your College Bound Kid podcast, episode 284.

College Financial Guide will help you gather this information for the schools you are considering, and deliver the information in a simple, practical report you can reference.  College Financial Guide will also help you understand student loan options and determine the most efficient way to pay.