The majority of people pursuing US sports scholarships are bombarded with myths and hand me down ideas from various sources regarding how best to become a competent and successful student athlete.

 

Due to these various interpretations, some people can get confused and frustrated about college and athletic recruitment which may lead to disappointment.

 

“Every athlete gets a full scholarship to participate in collegiate athletics.”

 

This is not usually the case. Some athletes do receive “full rides” to NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA colleges but there are many athletes who fund their college from academic scholarships in addition to the lucky few who receive athletic scholarships.

 

“Only the top athletes actively get recruited by college coaches.”

 

 

This, again, is not true. Top athletes get recruited to top programs; but every college program is looking for a balance of student-athletes, and many clients who were not heavily recruited do succeed. There is a college for every student and a program for every athlete; and if you – as an athlete – wanted to pursue college athletics, you will find that you will be promoted to different programs at various levels.

 

 

“Once a college coach says that you can be part of their program, the work is done.”

 

 

Again, not true. There are many things that a prospective student athlete needs to achieve once he or she has been offered the opportunity to compete in collegiate athletics. Minimally, the student athlete still needs to be accepted academically to the institution, complete the NCAA eligibility requirements and re-focus his or her academic and athletic goals.

 

“You have a scholarship for all four years but the college can take it back from you if you do not perform well.”

 

 

Neither of these is true. An athletic scholarship is year-to-year; however, a college coach has to renew your scholarship and will likely do so unless you break team rules, become academically ineligible or decide to quit on your own.

 

“FirstPoint USA will be the ones that award me with the scholarship.”

 

 

This definitely not the case. Only the college coach or the athletic director at the university can offer you a scholarship.