Scholarship for student athletes

Scholarships for student athletes

Education is the road to success and can be used for many years. Anything can happen in athletics (injury, retirement, discouragements and etc.). However when you have education it is very important, it can take you a long way after athletics career comes to an end. We encourage young and upcoming athletes to pursue their education first rather than going pro. We help our young and upcoming athletes obtain scholarships from various colleges and universities across the globe with no fee. We also work closely with various young athletes to provide with support to enable them succeed in their academics and help them make the right path.

How To Choose A College That's Right For You

The college search doesn't have to begin and end with the Ivies and the name brand schools. There are many schools out there to choose from — some known and some less known, all worthy of your attention. Here's some advice for trying to find the school that works for you.

1. Start with who you are and why you are going.

You need to examine yourself and your reasons for going to college before you start your search. Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life — something tangible or intangible?

Are you socially self-sufficient or do you need warm, familial support? Talk with your family, friends and high-school counselors as you ask these questions. The people who know you best can help you the most with these important issues.

2. Size matters: Your college does not have to be bigger than your high school.

Most good liberal arts colleges have a population of fewer than 4,000 for a reason; college is a time to explore, and a smaller community is more conducive to internal exploration. It is not the number of people, but the people themselves and the kind of community in which you will learn that really matters. Many large universities have established “honors colleges” within the larger university for these same reasons.

3. A name-brand college will not guarantee your success.

Think about the people in your life who are happy and successful and find out where (and if) they went to college. Ask the same about “famous” people. You will likely find that success in life has less to do with the choice of college than with the experiences and opportunities encountered while in college, coupled with personal qualities and traits.

Employers and graduate schools are looking for outstanding skills and experience, not college pedigree. As you search for colleges, ask about student outcomes; you will find many colleges that outperform the Ivies and "name brands," even though you may have never heard of them! Visit the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) for help on sorting through the information and for great questions to ask when visiting and choosing a college.

4. You don’t need to pick a major to pick a college.

Very few high-school students have enough information or experience to choose a major. You need the variety and depth of college coursework to determine your interest and aptitude. Most college students change their minds two or three times before they settle on a major, and they can still graduate in four years! Being undecided is a good thing and will leave you open to more academic experiences.

5. Don’t be scared by the stories.

If you only pay attention to the headlines, you might start to believe that “no one is getting in anywhere!” The truth is that the majority of the colleges and universities in this country admit more students than they reject. If you're worried about your chances of getting admitted — and you're willing to investigate beyond the very narrow band of highly selective colleges — you'll find that you have many options that will lead to a great fit for you.

Be informed about your academic profile and compare it to the profile of the most recently admitted and enrolled class for the colleges you are investigating. Check the college admission Web site for this information and contact them if you can’t find it. Ask your high-school counselor for additional advice and guidance as it applies to your school.

6. You can afford to go to college.

If you make the assumption that you cannot afford college based on the “sticker price” of tuition, you will miss out. It is difficult to talk about money, but if you investigate all the options and ask for help and advice, you will find affordable choices. Online resources, as well as financial aid workshops sponsored by high schools in local communities, are widely available to get you started. College and university financial aid Web sites offer useful information and links as well. Investigate early and ask for help.

7. You don’t have to go to college right away, and it’s never too late.

There is no such thing as the perfect time to start college. Some students benefit from a year off to work, study or travel, and these experiences allow them to be better, more engaged students. Some students choose to apply to college and gain admission and then defer their entrance, while others wait to apply until after they have had an alternative experience.

Either way, admissions officers will be anxious to learn about your experience during your time off, and they'll ask you to write about it as part of your admissions process. High-school and college admission counselors can provide resources for investigating alternatives that may be right for you. You could apply for an internship, study abroad, or participate in a community service project.

8. The most important factor in choosing a college is fit.

Choosing a college because your friends are going there or because of where it ranks on a list does not take into account who you are and who you will become. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Finding a good fit requires time and thoughtfulness.

Visiting college Web sites and learning about what events take place, who visits as guest speakers, and how to get in touch with current students and faculty is a good way to supplement a campus visit — or to decide if you want to spend the time and money on a visit. Check a school's Web site to find the admissions officer assigned to your region of the country. Send them an e-mail to ask about getting in touch with students from your area or identifying a few with interests similar to yours.

When you visit, try to build in time to sit in on classes, eat in the dining hall and hang around in the student center or other high-traffic areas. That will help you imagine yourself as part of the community. Talk to a few students and ask if they would make the same college choice if they had to do it again. Go back to the first item in this list as you consider the information you’ve collected about the colleges. You will have great options!

Martha O'Connell is the executive director of Colleges That Change Lives, an organization that helps students identify colleges that could be a good match for them.

ADOPTED from Colleges That Changes Lives-How to chose a College that is right for you

Top Ten Rules for Selecting a College or University

Never make your final college selection without visiting at least your top two or three choices. No matter how well you think you know a college or university, you can learn a lot (good or bad) by spending a few hours on campus, including whether or not the college feels like a good "fit" for you. Having family members accompany you on college visits is a great idea because it gives you extra "eyes and ears" and people with whom you can discuss your impressions.
There are no exceptions to rule #1.
A college is not necessarily right for you because its name is familiar. That might seem pretty obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many students equate educational quality with name recognition.
Investigate at least three or four colleges you know little or nothing about but offer the field(s) of study of interest to you, are appropriately selective for a students with your grades and SAT or ACT scores, and are located in geographic areas attractive to you. You have nothing to lose and you might make a great discovery. A little research and an open mind can greatly increase the odds that you make a good college choice.
There are very few worse reasons to select a college than because your friends are going there. Choosing a college because your girlfriend or boyfriend is headed there is one of them. In fact, if there is a worse reason to choose a college, it escapes us.
Investigate, investigate, investigate, and be sure to separate reality from (often baseless) opinions. Lots of folks will refer to a college as "good", "hard to get into", "a party school", "too expensive", etc. without really knowing the facts. Don't accept these kinds of generalizations without evidence.
Do not rule out colleges early because of cost. Many colleges offer scholarships, financial aid, and tuition installment plans that make them far more affordable than they may first appear. You can't/won't know how much it will cost to attend a college until the very end of the process.
Deadlines, whether for college applications, SAT or ACT registration, financial aid, scholarships, campus housing, etc. are not suggestions. Miss a deadline and you may find yourself in deep you-know-what. Write down on a calendar and adhere strictly to all deadlines.
Don't be afraid to apply to a few "reach schools". You might be pleasantly surprised by the results if you are not entirely unrealistic. Then, apply to at least three colleges you like which are highly likely to admit you. Remember, choose these three colleges very carefully as they are the places where you are mostly likely to wind up. Finally, choose at least two "safety" colleges. Colleges to which you are virtually certain you will be admitted. Choosing "safety" schools they don't really like is a mistake many students make. If you take the time to choose safety schools you would be happy to attend, you'll eliminate all the anxiety some students experience in the college application and admissions process.
When it is time to make your final choice, discuss your options with your family, your counselor (if you have one), and others who know you well and whose judgment you value. If you have a tough time choosing among two or more colleges or universities it is probably because you have done a good job putting together your list and you will be happy at whichever institution you choose. Once you make your choice, don't agonize over it. If you have followed these rules there is an excellent chance your final college choice will be a good one.

ADOPTED from COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP-Ten rules for selecting a college or universities.

ELIGIBILITY

COLLEGE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

NJCAA - Junior Colleges

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.

NAIA- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA as members.

DIVISION I (Larger budget schools)

Division I (or D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-I schools are generally the major collegiate athletic powers, with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities, and more athletic scholarships than Divisions II and III. This level was once called the University Division of the NCAA, in contrast to the College Division; this terminology was replaced with numeric divisions (I, II, III) in 1973.

DIVISION II

Division II (or DII) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It offers an alternative to both the highly competitive (and highly expensive) level of intercollegiate sports offered in NCAA Division I and to the non-scholarship level offered in Division III. Divisions II and III were formerly known collectively as the NCAA College Division.

Division II has 281 active member institutions, ranging in size from less than 2,500 to over 15,000, with the average enrollment being around 4,500.

DIVISION III

D-III schools range in size from less than 500 to over 20,000 students. D-III schools compete in athletics as a non-revenue making, extracurricular activity for students; hence, they may not offer athletic scholarships, they may not redshirt freshmen for non-medical reasons and they may not use endowments or funds whose primary purpose is to benefit their athletic programs.All Division III schools must field athletes in at least ten sports, with male and female competition in a given sport counting as two different sports. In 2012, schools must field athletes in at least twelve sports (and a minimum of six in each gender) if they have more than 1,000 undergraduates; otherwise, they still must field at least five sports in each gender.

Adopted From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steps to follow:

Freshmen and Sophomores

Start planning now

Work hard to get the best grades as possible
Take classes that match your high school’s NCAA List of Approved Core Cources

Juniors

At the beginning of your year, register with the Eligibility Center at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and complete the amateurism questionnaire
Double check to make sure that you are taking courses that match your high school’s NCAA list of Approved Core Courses
Request that your high school guidance counselor send an official transcript to Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. (The Eligibility Center does not accept faxed transcripts)

Seniors

Check the number of core courses that need to be completed your senior year with your guidance counselor and the Eligibility Center.
You may take SAT and /or ACT as often as you feel necessary.
Continue to take Core courses and check to make sure you are taking courses that match your high school’s NCAA list of Approved Core Courses.
Review your amateurism questionnaire response and request final transcript beginning April 1 (for fall) or October (for spring)
Continue to earn the best grades possible.
After graduation ask guidance counselor to send your final transcript to Clearing House with proof of graduation.
Graduate on time (in eight academic semesters). If you fall behind, use summer school sessions prior to graduation to catch up.

NCAA Clearinghouse Basics

FAQs about the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse

Student athletes must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college. (Athletes playing in NCAA Division III do not have to register.)

What is the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse?

The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse is the organization that determines whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or Division II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.

What are NCAA Divisions I, II, and III?

The NCAA is the governing body of many intercollegiate sports. Each college and university regulated by the NCAA has established rules on eligibility, recruiting, and financial aid, and falls into one of the three membership divisions (Divisions I, II, and III). Divisions are based on school size and the scope of their athletic programs and scholarships.

When should students register with the clearinghouse?

The NCAA recommends that student athletes register with the clearinghouse at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the clearinghouse before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or Division II institution.

How do students register with the clearinghouse?

Students can register online at the www.eligibilitycenter.org/. They will have to enter personal information, answer questions about their athletic participation, and pay a registration fee. The website will then prompt them to have their high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores sent to the clearinghouse.

Advice for Students athletes

Take advantage of all study hours provided to your by your university and team coaches
Take courses you enjoy and will help you later in life. Create a four-year plan that encompasses your academic schedule and your athletic responsibilities. Don’t forget to include career/work requirements or aspirations such as internships. Consider taking a lighter course load during the semesters in which your athletic responsibilities are the greatest and taking courses that are the most difficult in a less challenging time. Be reasonable in your planning. What looks manageable on paper could lead to complete stress in reality.
All schools provide tutors and other resources to athletes upon request. Use them to your advantage. Also realize that your academic advisors (and some professors) are there for you in the same way that your coaches are. Don’t hesitate to ask for their advice or support when you need it. Voice any concerns that you may have, particularly when it comes to courses or scheduling.
Try to load up on courses when not in season as the travel and practice burden during your sport season can cause missed classes, fewer choices for classes (practice may occur at the same time as many classes). If you can get in extra or even just the more challenging courses while not in season, you can take a lighter load during your season and not worry as much about making up tests or getting notes from another student.
Always talk to your teacher to explain your situation so they are not blindsided when you miss classes. There is a very small minority of teachers that do not like athletes, but the rest will understand your commitment and work with you as long as you work with them in return. Let your professors know what your athletic schedule is for the semester, and provide them with a calendar indicating dates you will not be in class due to team commitments. Although some will be more accommodating than others, never forget that it is your responsibility to be prepared in class, regardless of your absence, assignments should be turned in on deadline, and exams taken as scheduled. Take the time to know the teaching assistants, and contact them if you need help. Take advantage of your professor’s office hours. Most important, do not get behind. It’s too hard to recover. If you need a tutor, do it NOW rather than later when you’re completely lost.
Dont take a full load of courses that will not help you in your career just to get by. These courses can be called, 'breeze courses,' such as, dancing, yoga, etc. Fully understand what’s involved in your major, and take note of its requirements as well as those for graduation. Keep in mind that changes can happen. Pay careful attention to any notices you may receive regarding either.

Adopted from College Tips: Tips for College Student Athletes

Traveling Academics

If you are serious about your sport then you will be traveling a lot during school. Being on the road a lot means that you may have to miss your classes. Even though you are an athlete and may miss instruction, teachers still expect you to learn the skills they are teaching when you are absent.

Many schools have minimum grade point average requirements for their student athletes. If a student falls behind in his or her classes, the student must take a break from the sports team until the student is able to pull his or her grades back up. This gives students extra motivation to learn their needed skills and strive to do well in the classroom.

Academics Teach Focus

Academics also help athletes to stay focused. Learning to study and do homework while on a noisy bus on the way to or from a athletic competition will certainly teach you how to block unnecessary distractions. This is a valuable skill for all students, and athletes in particular. As you probably know, other athletes are instructed to try to distract you during team play so you will not do as well. All of the practice of blocking out distractions while studying will prepare you for times like these.