Summer has arrived. Baseball games, football practices, and golf tournaments now fill up summer schedules. For some students’ sports are more than just a hobby, it is a means to pay for college. In fact, athletic scholarships make up a large portion of the scholarship money pool because most universities set aside a substantial portion of their financial aid for recruiting athletes. While athletics may be a great way to fund a higher education, they can be a lot more demanding than most high school athletes realize. Therefore, before banking on an athletic scholarship to fund your way through school there are some things you must consider.

First, realize there are not as many “full ride” athletic scholarships available to freshmen as you might think. These are generally reserved for headcount sports: football, men and women’s basketball, tennis, volleyball and gymnastics. Most schools offer part-time scholarships with renewable contracts. This means if things don’t go well in your freshman year, you might not be offered the same financial packet the next year. Or if you do very well in your freshman year you might be offered more scholarship money. It’s important to keep in mind that athletic scholarships are based on your performance and skill in your sport, so when it comes to playing your sport, you can’t slack off.

Next thing to consider is the commitment you make when accepting an athletic scholarship. There will be meetings with coaches, training sessions, practices, and games at school and away, which will cut into your study and social time. Most colleges and universities have a GPA requirement for their athletes as well as performance criteria, so you will have to be prepared to take on both responsibilities while at school. Don’t be discouraged if getting an athletic scholarship is your dream, just realize it might not be an “easy ride” to school as you might once have thought.

Also, realize that just because schools might not be recruiting you for your athletic ability, does not mean you cannot find a school that is willing to offer you some scholarship money to play for their team. Do not get discouraged if coaches from universities have not taken noticed of your talent, they might not realize what you have to offer the team. Opportunities do not always come knocking at your door, sometimes you have to go out and look for them. There is no shame in searching out schools that have your sport and seeing if they have spots available for scholarships. If going to school on an athletic scholarship is something you want or need, go out and pursue it. Sometimes all you need to do is show a coach what you have to offer to get the financial assistance you need.

Tips on find and getting athletic scholarships:

1. Search for colleges and universities that offer your sport.
2. Contact the institution and see if they offer scholarships in your sport.
3. Make a list of schools you are interested in applying to.
4. Contact the head coaches and write letters requesting consideration for recruitment.
5. Send the coaches both an athletic resume and an academic resume.
6. Put together a video highlight of your athletic abilities; put it on a Youtube channel.
7. Send the coaches letters of recommendation from your high school coaches.
8. Ask for a formal interview.
9. Send thank you notes to the coaches and recruiters for taking time to interview you.
10. Be persistent and follow up.