If you’re passionate about your sport of choice, you may be interested in what it takes to get recruited as a college athlete. So it’s essential to learn all of the facts to determine your path forward. 

From deciding between Division l, II, and III to realistically assessing your admissions odds, there are many considerations students need to take into account when applying to schools as a college athlete

There are a lot of rules around the actual recruitment process. If you’re interested in athletic recruitment, it’s essential to understand the steps necessary to be considered for recruitment and the timeline. From registering with the NCAA to filling out questionnaires and creating online profiles, there are many tools out there that you’ll need to take advantage of to have a successful athletic recruitment process.

One of the most important decisions students need to make is precisely what kind of role they want athletics to play throughout their college experience. It’s essential to keep in mind that playing a college sport can be a serious time commitment. Suppose you choose to play at a competitive level like Division I, in particular. In that case, it’s likely that a significant portion of your college experience will be devoted to practice, traveling to games, and playing, at least during your season. Take time to reflect on exactly how much time you wish to devote to your sport throughout college and the other social and academic engagements you hope to balance.

Students need to be realistic about their admissions chances and what it takes to stand out. There is a vast difference in skill level between high school sports and collegiate athletics, regardless of whether you’re playing in Division I, II, or III. That doesn’t mean that students should feel discouraged or assume they won’t gain a spot on the team. Instead, it’s just a reminder that it’s important to go into the process with a realistic idea of where you stand. In some sports, such as rowing and tennis, it might be possible to measure your performance and see how you might stack up compared to other athletes in your field.

Another essential step that student-athletes should take is making two separate college lists, one in which sports is a key consideration and one in which it’s not. Regardless of your passion and interest in the sport you play, every student needs to be realistic and acknowledge that there’s always a chance you won’t play during college, whether that’s due to an injury or an emerging interest that takes you down another path. Give yourself time to compile two separate lists and start getting excited about the best-fit option for both scenarios.

Regardless of your talent level, academics are a significant factor throughout the college recruitment process. Every athlete will need to meet a minimum GPA  to gain a spot on the team. Additionally, a stellar GPA will always work in your favor and may prove beneficial throughout the recruitment process. Generally, each team has a GPA they must meet as a whole. If you are a strong athletic candidate, an impressive academic performance can work in your favor because it will positively contribute to your team’s overall GPA. Consequently, every student athlete needs to make sure they’re devoting the time they need to study and academics.

The athletic recruitment process is complex and will vary depending on the sport you play and the level of competition you hope to pursue. Let us put the college puzzle together for you.