Once you’re hooked to playing sports, you’ll carry it all the way to college and beyond. But while there are athletic scholarships and financial aid programs offered by different colleges and universities to their students, getting a grant also requires some hard work. So here’s what you need to be a well-prepped and a better candidate for athletic scholarships.
1. Research about the school.
Because you’ll also be focused on the academic requirements, you need to research about the schools you want to play for. Make sure that the school offers the major and the sport you want so that you’ll enjoy both studying and playing. On top of that, research about the GPA requirements and the sports standards of the schools you’re applying to. That way, you can prepare to be qualified for both the courses and the sport of your choice.
Striking a balance between the sport you excel in and the major you want to study is an important consideration. Most scholarship grants have a clause stating that the person awarded the grant should maintain a specified GPA. Because you will be juggling both academics and sports (practice sessions and competitions), you may find it difficult to stay on top for both. Getting a major that you are really interested in helps you meet the required GPA, as you will be motivated to study for subjects because you find them enjoyable.
2. Prepare the admission requirements.
Many colleges require applicants of athletic scholarships to apply like the other regular incoming students. So, you may need to answer application forms, include transcripts of records, submit standardized test scores, and write personal statements.
Because writing personal statements should be taken seriously, it is advisable to read sample college admission essays online. Sample college admission essays serve as a guide to help you write compelling and satisfactory personal statements.
3. Prepare your sport achievement resume.
Of course, you’ll have to market your sport capabilities and skills through a sports resume. Included in this resume are information about your strength training history, seminars you’ve attended, your sports achievements and some community activities you’ve participated in. You may also need to indicate your future athletic goals and provide a video showing how you play your sport.
If you prefer, however, to get some assistance in preparing your sport achievement resume, contact a sports recruiting service. Representatives will help you organize your resume and market your athletic skills to coaches all over the country for a fee.
4. Send your sport achievement resume to various coaches.
Just like when people apply for jobs, the more resumes they send, the more chances they have of getting accepted. Do the same when you apply for an athletic scholarship and send as much resumes as you can. After sending, make follow-up calls to the recipient coaches after a week. It may even be better if you get your past coaches to help you make phone calls. They can help further market your skills.
5. Keep physically and mentally fit.
It’s always better to stay in shape while waiting for your school and athletic scholarship applications to be processed. Staying in shape allows you to be prepared whenever coaches suddenly call for you for interviews or for training. Preparing yourself mentally for school is also advisable so that you’ll be in top condition to study when classes begin.
Photo Credit : thetorpedodog
