It can sometimes be difficult for students to gain admission into their dream higher institutions around the world, as there are required conditions. Top colleges and universities only give admission on merit, which is a high rating in both the academic program and extra-curricular activities. Since it is an unspoken norm for most athletes to maintain a high GPA and impress in their various sports, athletes easily gain admission into top universities, especially the ones who are on athletic scholarships. In this article we shall see How important are sports for college admission?
Playing sports or being an athlete is not a requirement to gain admission, as many other students who are not athletes gain admission into prestigious universities and colleges on merit. But, as an active sportsperson, your application tells your dream college how much you can manage between your academics and your extracurricular activities. Your athletic scholarship tells them how you can maintain the school’s high reputation by being the best in your school work and your game.
Do athletes easily gain admission into college compared to regular students?
Yes, active athletes who have impressed in their games and their academics have some kind of preferential treatment in some colleges, especially those who were recommended. These colleges easily grant them admission to maintain or boost their status. Higher institutions looking to upgrade or strengthen their sports squad give active or impressive athletes admission or scholarship if they can balance games and academics.
Sports In College
There are many sporting tournaments (in-house and external) that universities and colleges across the United States participate in. These events are separate from academic activities and many students represent different teams and events. In the tournament, athletes are looking to impress so that they can stay on the team or get regular playtime. To stay on the team or maintain their scholarship, athletes have to know how to balance their academic activities with their sports.
Qualities of an Active Athlete in College
Good Time Management
As an athlete, you need to know how to manage the time between going to classes, studying, and sports practices. Sporting activities involve extensive training, as all schools want their athletes to beat the best and be the best. Since college coaches are also looking to promote themselves alongside the school, athletes must impress during training and tournaments to stay on the team. Athletes who are on scholarships, also need to create study time to maintain a high GPA, as schools need athletes that can do it all.
Good Organization
A good organization is all about an athlete’s structure, even when there is an emergency. How do you create time for each of your college needs and attend to them properly? Since class attendance is non-negotiable, the athlete needs to create a structure dealing with study time and sports activities. For instance, if you dedicate two hours every day to personal study, you can dedicate three hours to sports practice. A good structure also makes room for emergency and tournament travels across the country, so that athletes can easily catch up on other things.
Academic Process
Typically, students in higher institutions strive to maintain a high academic rating so that they can earn nice jobs in a good position when they are done with school. It is no different for athletes, especially those that want to transition from college competition to nationals. Although you do not have to be an academic guru before you play at an international level, you need good grades, if you want to pass through the college process. With a good rating comes more opportunities.
What should an athlete consider before applying to colleges for admission?
Before putting up an application to their dream schools, students who want to play college sports have many factors to consider, especially if the application is going to a prestigious institution. How much time can you devote to your team and your game, alongside your academic work? If you have doubts that you may not be able to balance it, then you should consider other extracurricular activities.
When applying for admission to colleges, a student-athlete must:
Keep an open mind
No matter what, do not solely depend on your sporting abilities when trying to build your future. As you are compiling a list of colleges that could take you for your athletic skills, also compile a list of institutions that your academic rating can get you into. Keep your options open and develop yourself in other areas.
Prepare for the worse
Even if you get on the college team, you would fight for regular playing time, as almost every athlete is as good as you. How do you keep your future hopes alive if you suffer a career-ending injury in college or during training practice? Many student-athletes start running in circles when they have problems that affect their contests. They want to prove themselves but do not get another opportunity because coaches need players that are fit for regular playing time.
Talk to college coaches
Speaking to a college coach gives you an idea of the criteria for joining a college team. It helps you know what the college coaches are looking for in a recruit. How do you handle your coach’s training method, or sitting on the sidelines? College coaches look at sportsmanship, not only an athlete’s ability on the field.
Enjoy the Tryouts
Although many players do not make it past the tryouts, it is important to enjoy your game at any given opportunity. The coaches are also looking at how you respond to a personal mistake or a team failure. So, as much as you try to impress, do not fail to show sportsmanship on the field.
Conclusion
Being a student-athlete does not guarantee admission into a great college if you are a recruit and you do not have a high academic rating. Some student-athletes get recommendation letters from their high school, along with their applications to their dream colleges. Students with athletic scholarships mostly get admission on merit to top institutions across the United States and some of them get to join their college teams.
FAQs
Can college sports get you to nationals?
It depends, although some people have gotten into the national leagues for college sports, it is not a requirement for playing at a national level. Many athletes who hoped to play in the national leagues could not get the chance because of the amount of work they had to put in. College coaches have extreme training sessions throughout a player’s time in college and they do not handle defaulters very well. A player might still have to find an agent or scout, even after playing regular games in college.
