What are the best ways to get an athletic scholarship to a college or university?

November 12, 2021

It seems slightly unfair and really quite backward that some of the biggest life decisions need to be made when we are teenagers. It is difficult for young people to properly weigh up these choices, such as what they want to do with their future, what subjects they might want to study, and which part of the country, or world, they would like to further their education. They might not even want to go to college. Either way, at 16, 17, or 18, it can be incredibly tough to make these calls.

That’s not even mentioning the financial implications of going away to university. Whilst in some countries, higher education is provided by the state, in others, kids have to take out huge loans to cover their tuition and living costs. In other places, such as the United States, there is very little aid given out to prospective college students, so families have to pay tens of thousands of dollars a year, just to get their kids through the 4 years of studying.

There are certain scholarships that can be achievable. Some schools will offer scholarships and grants to some gifted individuals, but who come from less fortunate backgrounds. Others can have help from colleges because they are incredibly bright, and will likely go on to great things in their academic field.

Another common example is gifted athletes who achieve athletic scholarships. This is something that happens all over the world, but the most classic and best-known examples of it happen in the United States, where college sports are a massive business. If you aren’t from America, it can be hard to fathom quite how popular they are. Take college football for example. Each week, hundreds of thousands of fans and spectators pack into the various stadiums and arenas across the country, which are often even larger than their NFL counterparts. Even more will watch at home, looking up the latest NCAAF odds on their sports betting apps, to place bets on their favorite teams and players.

Because many of these college players will go on to play in the NFL, the American college system is well aware of how precious of a commodity these players are. What’s more, they don’t receive a wage, but at the same time will bring in arguably millions of dollars to the school if they perform well. That is why the college athletic scholarship system is so competitive, as each university will want to have the best team possible.

If you are wanting to become the next NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL (or any other professional sports) megastar, and you need some information on how to achieve the best college athletic scholarship out there, then read on to learn some of the best ways to make this happen.

Do your research well in advance of beginning the application process

If an athletic scholarship is a route you want to go down, then you’ll need to begin researching for as long as possible before you apply, ideally a good number of months, if not a year. You will need to look at not only the schools’ sporting credentials but the individual coach for your sport too. If you want to play soccer, there is no point applying to a top sports college, if the coach for soccer doesn’t have a proven track record.

From there, get in touch with as many people as you can, such as head coaches, assistant coaches, and recruiting coordinators. You need to find the right match for what you want to achieve, but also need to be able to sell yourself at the same time, and come across as an attractive prospect to them. Creating a dialogue with these people, so they remember who you are, is absolutely vital.

Understand and come to terms with your athletic level and ability

You might be a genuine athletic prodigy, with the potential to become the next Tom Brady, LeBron James, or Mookie Betts, in which case you should apply for the top schools, as your high school record will do the talking for you.

If you are not quite at these levels, then there is no point in only applying to colleges that promote themselves as the best of the best. You might get in, but the likelihood is that you’ll spend most of your time on the bench, or not in the squad. It makes more sense to go to a 2nd or 3rd level school, where you know you’ll get plenty of game time, so scouts from the major leagues can actually see you play.

Get out on tour

A college might seem perfect on paper, but until you’ve actually seen it in person, you won’t really know what to expect. There might be something that instantly puts you off, or at the same time, makes you instantly know it is the place for you.

Getting out to see as many colleges as possible is absolutely key, as you can then visualize them whilst you compare them in your mind. This will help make your decision on which athletic scholarship is the right one for you.

About the Author Prabhakaran

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