Getting an athletic scholarship can be highly competitive so here are our main 3 tips on how to score a scholarship.
1. Start Early
You should start your scholarship search as early as you can. Many coaches sign players to their teams a minimum of a year in advance. The earlier you start the more options you will have and you will have more time to fix issues which could hinder your chances of getting a scholarship, such as your grades or athletic weaknesses.
Our free online platform allows you to build an online portfolio and start that search today. You can enter your current academics, sporting accolades, upload videos of performances and start talking to coaches straight away.
2. Keep up with your academics
Getting an athletic scholarship isn't solely based on athletics; academics also matter. The NCAA requires incoming Division I athletes to have a minimum 2.3 GPA to play their freshman year. After that, you need to maintain a minimum GPA each year, based on the number of credit hours you've earned, for continued eligibility to play.
Coaches want athletes that not only perform in their chosen sport but also in the classroom. You can also gain academic scholarships if your grades are particularly good.
Evaluate where you are academically and how that aligns with what the schools on your short list expect from student athletes. This can give you some valuable perspective on how likely you are to qualify for athletic scholarship funding, as well as academic scholarships.
3. Choose the right program
With hundreds of colleges at various levels it can be hard choosing a program. Narrowing down your search and looking at the correct schools based on your academic and athletic ability will help with your college search and the level of scholarship you could receive.
Looking at colleges that exceed your level can be met with disappointment as you may not be awarded the level scholarship you desire. You want to be able to grow as an athlete and hone in your skills at the college you got to but you also don’t want to attend somewhere that doesn’t challenge you. It is about finding the right balance that will help you develop as a student-athlete.
If you need advice on figuring out what level college that would work best for your ability, contact us at info@firstpointusa.com or contact your assigned Talent management Consultant.
