Academic Questions

A: Now called the NCAA Eligibility Center, the people there will determine your initial eligibility before you attend an NCAA Division I or II college or university. Register with them at the end of your junior year. BUT -- big But here...Please, we beg of you -- find out which classes you'll need in high school before your freshman year of high school. You must be on track early in your high school to fulfill the academic requirements for the NCAA. Most high schools' graduation requirements will lead you in the right direction, but not all high schools' requirements equal NCAA eligibility. Your four year plan should include all NCAA required classes. You never know how much you might improve from the beginning through the end of high school. Even if you expect to attend a Division III or NAIA school (they don't require NCAA Eligibility Center registration) it is best to fulfill the requirements and more if possible, to ensure you are eligible the college of your choice.

Q: Which high school courses should I take?

A: Look up this info in a couple of different places to cover all your bases. Each college has its own requirements - though most of the nation's colleges have similar requirements. Also, check with the NCAA Clearinghouse guidelines. Remember, meeting your high school's graduation requirements and becoming eligible for college admissions are two different things.  www.ncaaclearinghouse.net      Click on prospective student-athletes and then on the left -- List of approved core courses.

Q: Can I still get an athletic scholarship if my grades are mediocre -- or bad?

A: Yes. The better your grades the more options you give yourself. You'll have to be clearinghouse eligible for Division I and Division II scholarships. If you really struggle in high school try a junior college or community college that fields a team in your sport. Speak to each of your teachers on a regular basis whether or not you have trouble in your classes. It could make the difference between a D and a C, C and a B, and so on. 

Q: I am a homeschooled student. Can I still play? How can I make sure I will be academically eligible?

A: Yes, you can still compete. The NCAA Clearinghouse has information for you to make sure you are on track. Each college will have their own recommendations for you. It is best to call the admissions office to discuss your steps to take.

Q: I have a learning disability. Some of my courses are special resource classes. Will I be eligible?

A: The NCAA Eligibility Center has special provisions for students with IEPs and for students with learning disabilities. You must work closely with the NCAA and with your school's registrar to ensure the courses you take will count (if reasonable) on the List of Approved Core Courses for your school. Contact Sports Dreammakers for more guidance.

Scholarship Questions

A: It is our opinion and the opinion of college coaches that student athletes should not pay hundreds or thousands of dollars trying to "earn a scholarship." Recruiting services tell you that college coaches receive thousands of letters from high school athletes. What they don't tell you is that they are likely to open every single letter they receive from individual athletes, but will often toss an envelope from a recruiting service in the trash. By sending out your own e-mails and letters you can generate all the recruiting letters and interest you need. If you carefully investigate a company or trust a person who will work specifically with your needs, consider consulting with someone -- ONLY if they are not in the business of sending mass profiles out, and if they are not giving out free subscriptions to star athletes in order to claim that they've helped these athletes, as most recruiting services do. Recruiting services and scouting services are different. Be careful, though, because some recruiting services try to call themselves scouting services.

Q: Will my scholarship be good for four years?

A: NCAA schools do not offer four year scholarships. Your scholarship must be renewed each year! Most schools will renew your scholarship, so it can end up being a four year scholarship -- or five year if circumstances arise.

Q: Do NCAA Division III schools offer athletic scholarships?

A: No. However, they have financial aid packages that will often bring down the cost of attendance for student-athletes. NCAA rules say they may not offer athletic scholarships, but Division III schools often have flexibility for student-athletes in the admissions process, and they have players on their rosters who have made it work financially, so keep your options open.

Q: What is a national letter of intent? (NLI)

A: A national letter of intent is an agreement between you and a Division I or Division II institution that you will attend the institution for one academic year.

Q: Should I sign an NLI?

A: For more about this, see the National Letter of Intent website for FAQ's http://www.national-letter.org/faq/

Q: I have straight A's. I have two choices. Should I take a partial academic scholarship and partial athletic scholarship or full athletic scholarship?

A: Find out how renewable the academic scholarship is. As long as you work hard and don't have huge discipline problems your athletic scholarship should be renewable. Perhaps it will help your future coach if you take the partial athletic scholarship the first year. Make sure a full athletic scholarship will still be available your second year of college. In short, research the requirements and renewability of each scholarship before you sign on any lines.

Q: Will I qualify for a fee waiver for my admissions application if I am going to get a scholarship?

A: The cost of applying to college, taking SATs and ACTs and having scores sent can be a burden to the average family. Some student-athletes are eligible for a financial hardship waiver. See your guidance counselor for a Fee Waiver Request Form/Financial Hardship Waiver. The request form can also be found by clicking here to read more.

Some schools offer special discounts for legacies (children of alumni), when more than one member of the same family is enrolled at the same time, or for children of employees.
 

General Questions

A: Less than 25% of all college athletic spots come from Division I Schools. This means that nearly three-fourths of your sports opportunities - including many scholarship opportunities will be at NCAA Division II, III, NAIA, Junior Colleges, Community Colleges, and NCCAA Schools.

If you are determined to play sports in college keep your options open. Schools at all levels will offer excellent experiences for teamwork, skill building and competition. 

Q: Does the letter I received mean I might get a scholarship? Does it mean I am being specifically recruited?

A: Probably Not! One letter does not mean as much as you might want it to. This is a common mistake players make. Hundreds or even thousands of other kids receive letters similar to yours. Keep working hard and getting better and follow up with coaches to determine their real level of interest in you. Send an e-mail, call the college you received the letter from, or have your coach call to ask questions about their level of interest. Once you are receiving e-mails, text messages, and (when allowable per NCAA an NAIA rules) weekly phone calls, THEN you are being recruited and on track for a scholarship. Scholarship talk should not be secret. If a school stops contacting you, call them and ask them why. OR write an e-mail and persist until you determine the coaching staff's level of interest.

Q: Won't my high school coach get me a college sports scholarship if I am good enough to play college sports?

A: Maybe. High school coaches may or may not have played college sports. Many were never college recruiters. Most of all, very few high school coaches have college coaches among their friends and associates. Your high school coach can best serve you by being a reference for you when college coaches call. Being a high school coach does not make one a college sports expert, nor does it mean you regularly work with or talk to college coaches. In addition, high school coaches have many demands on their time, and are not full time coaches.

Ask your high school coach to do a couple of things for you. Hand your coach a list with the names and numbers of college coaches you would like them to call. Discuss this list with them. Ask them for a letter of recommendation, but don't expect them to hold your hand to help you get onto a college team. Follow up to remind them about making calls, and ask them to let you know what they find out.

Q. If I am going to get a scholarship do I still have to apply to colleges?

A: As a recruited student athlete, applying is often a formality, but you will (almost always) have to meet the general requirements of the college you are applying to if you wish to be considered for a scholarship. Admissions offices at colleges may offer you more flexibility, but they are not miracle workers, so make sure you take the right classes, and be sure to meet NCAA eligibility.