How to Get an Athletic Scholarship

Division I schools major sports programs such as football and men’s basketball have recruiters who go after the top players from around the country. Less well funded sports, even at major schools, and all sports at Division II and III schools do not have this luxury. While the coaches are aware of the high school athletes in their immediate area, students who want to obtain an athletic scholarship to attend college can enhance their chances by promoting themselves to coaches at schools where they would like to attend.

The first thing that you should know is that thousands of students attend colleges and universities with the help of athletic scholarships. If you are an outstanding athlete in any sport, talk to your coach about helping you to get a sports related scholarship.

Your coach will help you to pick out realistic target schools. If you are a good player on a good basketball team, you may have a shot at a Division II school. Don’t set your sites only on the schools that made the Sweet 16.

Put together a list of schools that you would like to attend. Don’t base this solely on the prowess of their athletic team. Consider whether they offer the major you’d like to study and the general environment where you would like to spend four years of your life. Take into consideration whether the school is in a large city or a small village.

Don’t overlook sports team opportunities at smaller or lesser known colleges. Many times, teams there can be quite nurturing.

If you don’t believe you have a realistic chance at a pro career or if your sport doesn’t offer a pro circuit, choose your college based on the following factors:

1. What school you would really like to attend. Pick a school where you would go even if the athletic scholarship opportunity wasn’t there.

2. What team you would like to play on. The coach and the players that you’ll be spending a lot of time with make a big difference. Pick a team that matches your personality.

3. The total financial aid package. Many people think an athletic scholarship is equal to a full ride and are disappointed to find that the aid covers only a fraction of the total cost of attendance. Keep in mind that you will be giving up opportunities to work, study, and have fun in college in exchange for playing on the team. Balance out the prospect of money with the commitments you will make.

If you are serious about getting a scholarship, talk to the admissions offices at the schools you are interested in early. Coaches are not allowed to talk to potential players ahead of time. But, the admissions office can be recruiting during a student’s Junior year.

If you are interested in a program, you can contact the coach by email late in your Junior year of high school. Tell him you are interested in his program and invite him to follow your senior season. If you are going to send out multiple emails, make sure they are personalized with the name of the coach and the name of the school. There’s nothing more embarrassing than sending a letter to Harvard’s coach praising Yale’s team. Include your name, high school, and all contact information including home address, phone numbers, and email information. If you think it helps to make your case, include information on grades, test scores, and community service.

It is possible to attend college with the help of an athletic scholarship. Playing college level sports just might be one of the highlights of your life.

Need money for college? Use FastWeb’s free scholarship search to find information on more than 600,000 scholarships!