Who knows about getting athletic scholarships?

[FurryFury]

I could do with some tips and experiences being shared.

 

[midwestyankee]

I believe the main thing is to make sure that your student athlete attracts the attention of coaches from universities that have the capacity to offer scholarships. Depending on the sport, there's a lot of PR work going on to promote high school athletes.

 

[FurryFury]

Thanks for the post.

 

[midwestyankee]

Thanks for the post.

You're welcome. My experience with a couple of athletically gifted nephews and nieces is that most kids raise interest with coaches by placing high or winning big amateur events. The golfer, for example, won his state's high school individual championship after having won a number of regional tournaments for juniors. His sister went to summer camps run by a college coach or two in her specialty: field hockey.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I could do with some tips and experiences being shared.

What info are you looking for exactly? Big school or small school? What sport? For males or females?

Every school has scholarships to give out. Big schools have more and smaller schools have less. Most scholarships go to the big sports first. Those are the ones who bring in the most money. There is a full scholarship which covers all of the tuition or a partial scholarship which only covers a set amount.

 

[LilyBart]

As MWY offered, PR has a lot to do with it. When my daughter was looking at schools, her coach provided introductions to the coaches he knew at the schools she was visiting and she probably spent more time with those coaches than touring the rest of the schools. She ended up getting an academic scholarship instead. Her ego was a little bruised but my checkbook was happy nonetheless.

The Dean of Athletics at her high school was also a great source of information and guidance, and depending on the sport, was able to make valued recommendations for the students.


The NCAA website has a lot of good information, including the rules governing how and when a high-school student can talk to a collegiate athletic representative or coach.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

You might want to check out this page, and then Google "athletic scholarships" with as many qualifiers as you think are appropriate (e.g., "for women," "field hockey," etc.). I don't really know anything in particular about the website, but it appears to be free information supported by advertising and perhaps some funding from colleges/universities.

It also has a page that provides links to other websites that may be helpful, including one (that I noticed) for information regarding two-year (junior) colleges. While that (junior college) is often considered the "marginal student" option, for those who can't/don't get the required scores on ACT/SAT, the unspoken fact is that it's also an option to be carefully considered by athletes who have the talent to play in Division I or II, but have not had the advantage of training that would allow them to do so at this time. A junior college can give that athlete focused attention on his/her weaknesses and bring them up to DI/DII requirements, and the coaches in a junior college often have excellent contacts with the DI and DII schools.

 

[FurryFury]

You're welcome. My experience with a couple of athletically gifted nephews and nieces is that most kids raise interest with coaches by placing high or winning big amateur events. The golfer, for example, won his state's high school individual championship after having won a number of regional tournaments for juniors. His sister went to summer camps run by a college coach or two in her specialty: field hockey.

My teen plays a tournament a month and is top ranked in two categories in his sport on the novice circuit but needs to move up to higher ranks.

 

[FurryFury]

What info are you looking for exactly? Big school or small school? What sport? For males or females?

Every school has scholarships to give out. Big schools have more and smaller schools have less. Most scholarships go to the big sports first. Those are the ones who bring in the most money. There is a full scholarship which covers all of the tuition or a partial scholarship which only covers a set amount.

School size isn't important to us. The sport is Tennis for males.

He doesn't just want a scholarship, he wants to actually play. This sport is his passion.

 

[FurryFury]

As MWY offered, PR has a lot to do with it. When my daughter was looking at schools, her coach provided introductions to the coaches he knew at the schools she was visiting and she probably spent more time with those coaches than touring the rest of the schools. She ended up getting an academic scholarship instead. Her ego was a little bruised but my checkbook was happy nonetheless.

The Dean of Athletics at her high school was also a great source of information and guidance, and depending on the sport, was able to make valued recommendations for the students.


The NCAA website has a lot of good information, including the rules governing how and when a high-school student can talk to a collegiate athletic representative or coach.

We homeschool so we don't have the benefit of high school coaches or Dead of Athletics people.

Of course he does work with coaches but so far none of them have come forward with great ideas or connections and yes, I've asked for advice from them.

The NCAA web site does have a great deal of information but it also confuses me. LOL. I am so NOT a sports person.

On the up side my son gets to practice and play a great deal more than the average high school student. He is working at it every day that it doesn't rain.

 

[FurryFury]

You might want to check out this page, and then Google "athletic scholarships" with as many qualifiers as you think are appropriate (e.g., "for women," "field hockey," etc.). I don't really know anything in particular about the website, but it appears to be free information supported by advertising and perhaps some funding from colleges/universities.

It also has a page that provides links to other websites that may be helpful, including one (that I noticed) for information regarding two-year (junior) colleges. While that (junior college) is often considered the "marginal student" option, for those who can't/don't get the required scores on ACT/SAT, the unspoken fact is that it's also an option to be carefully considered by athletes who have the talent to play in Division I or II, but have not had the advantage of training that would allow them to do so at this time. A junior college can give that athlete focused attention on his/her weaknesses and bring them up to DI/DII requirements, and the coaches in a junior college often have excellent contacts with the DI and DII schools.

Great! Thanks!

Off to peruse.

 

[mediocre]

Don't know a great deal about getting scholarships but I can tell you what I have heard others doing.

Create a DVD showing his skills and some matches he's had. Highlight his positives and accomplishments. If you really want or need a scholarship have some professional help. Maybe a pro videographer or even a voice over guy. It might be expensive but the cost would be minuscule to the cost of paying for college. Send the DVD out to the schools he's interested in and follow it up with a phone call a bit later. They look at a lot of athletes but only pick a few for a scholarship.

As a side note. Had a guy at our high school who didn't get any scholarship offers before graduating. He walked on at Western Michigan and within a week of practice he had a half scholarship and the following season he was on a full ride. He impressed the coaches so much with his work ethic and attitude. Plus he must have been good. He played ten years in the NFL.

 

[FurryFury]

Thanks! I'll look into all that!

Don't know a great deal about getting scholarships but I can tell you what I have heard others doing.

Create a DVD showing his skills and some matches he's had. Highlight his positives and accomplishments. If you really want or need a scholarship have some professional help. Maybe a pro videographer or even a voice over guy. It might be expensive but the cost would be minuscule to the cost of paying for college. Send the DVD out to the schools he's interested in and follow it up with a phone call a bit later. They look at a lot of athletes but only pick a few for a scholarship.

As a side note. Had a guy at our high school who didn't get any scholarship offers before graduating. He walked on at Western Michigan and within a week of practice he had a half scholarship and the following season he was on a full ride. He impressed the coaches so much with his work ethic and attitude. Plus he must have been good. He played ten years in the NFL.

 

[clock1]

As a side note. Had a guy at our high school who didn't get any scholarship offers before graduating. He walked on at ...

If you are not concerned with a scholarship the walk on route is the way to go. He should choose a school with a good program in the area he wants to study, and a good (but not great-nationally ranked) tennis program.

He can then walk on, if he is good (beats scholarship athletes) he will be placed in the pecking order. If he is not that good yet he can train with the team (extra bodies are usually welcome). If he never plays competitively he gets a good education, and plays a lot of tennis. If he does play well he might even work himself up to a scholarship of some kind.

I would talk to the tennis coach at whatever school(s) he is looking at, most will tell you up front what his chances are and what procedures he would need to follow. Coaches really like good surprises that walk into their offices out of nowhere.

 

[FurryFury]

If you are not concerned with a scholarship the walk on route is the way to go. He should choose a school with a good program in the area he wants to study, and a good (but not great-nationally ranked) tennis program.

He can then walk on, if he is good (beats scholarship athletes) he will be placed in the pecking order. If he is not that good yet he can train with the team (extra bodies are usually welcome). If he never plays competitively he gets a good education, and plays a lot of tennis. If he does play well he might even work himself up to a scholarship of some kind.

I would talk to the tennis coach at whatever school(s) he is looking at, most will tell you up front what his chances are and what procedures he would need to follow. Coaches really like good surprises that walk into their offices out of nowhere.

I'll keep that in mind for another option. I don't care about any of this. HE wants a scholarship but playing is def what's MOST important to him. I was thinking that if he didn't get one, I might keep him home and have him CLEP his first two years of college.

The money saved could be put into doing more training and tournaments. This is the way I think. He will do what he desires and who knows what that will turn out to be. LOL.

I'm still hoping he can get what he thinks he wants right now. I'm going to do what I can to get him there. I'm all about opportunities for my loved ones.

 

[WriterDom]

I think your phone would be ringing if he was good enough to play division one. I'd look at two year schools in the area with tennis teams and have him walk on. He might find the team concept more fun than just playing tournaments. Or find out what HE wants to do. He can always keep playing tennis for years at some level if not in college.

 

[clock1]

I'll keep that in mind for another option. I don't care about any of this. HE wants a scholarship but playing is def what's MOST important to him. I was thinking that if he didn't get one, I might keep him home and have him CLEP his first two years of college.

The money saved could be put into doing more training and tournaments. This is the way I think. He will do what he desires and who knows what that will turn out to be. LOL.

I'm still hoping he can get what he thinks he wants right now. I'm going to do what I can to get him there. I'm all about opportunities for my loved ones.

He can CLEP on year very easilly, the credits for that second year are more difficult, however academically speaking CLEP sometimes puts students into higher level classes without the aquired rigor necessary for college success. As has been pointed out if he is really good coaches (at least in the local area) know who he is. Go talk to them, they might even allow him to "play/practice" against some established players to give the coach an idea of how good he is/might be.

In any case best of luck to him, he sounds ambitious. That is good.

 

[FurryFury]

I think your phone would be ringing if he was good enough to play division one. I'd look at two year schools in the area with tennis teams and have him walk on. He might find the team concept more fun than just playing tournaments. Or find out what HE wants to do. He can always keep playing tennis for years at some level if not in college.

Actually by the NCAA rules they can't call yet.

This is one of the thing I'm trying to figure out though, just how good do you have to be to attract attention, particularly if you do not go to a public high school?

A two year college has never been my goal but we will do whatever it takes for him to play and get his education.

Walking on is one option if a scholarship doesn't develop. Actually, he doesn't know it but I think he might also easily qualify for an Academic Scholarship as his sister did, as well.

 

[FurryFury]

He can CLEP on year very easilly, the credits for that second year are more difficult, however academically speaking CLEP sometimes puts students into higher level classes without the aquired rigor necessary for college success. As has been pointed out if he is really good coaches (at least in the local area) know who he is. Go talk to them, they might even allow him to "play/practice" against some established players to give the coach an idea of how good he is/might be.

In any case best of luck to him, he sounds ambitious. That is good.

Good information, thank you!

 

[FurryFury]

Today one of my son's coaches gave his opinion that a Division 2 Scholarship was a possibility. That was nice to hear. However, he hasn't seen anything yet. I predict by this time next year my son will be on a whole different and higher level.

That being said I don't know how far his talent, persistence and passion will take him. Frankly I'm not invested in this, for myself, at all. I'm just trying to help him reach his own goals. If he does, that's fantastic. If he doesn't at least he won't have to say, "If only I'd tried."

Either way, I'm one happy mom. I love seeing my kids really want something enough to work hard, over a sustained period and figure out how to make it happen.