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If you've always dreamed about competing in college athletics, your dream may be within reach. But, you need more than athletic talent...you need to know how to "connect" with appropriate colleges. First, be sure you "get real". Most high school student-athletes don't have the talent to play basketball in the ACC or football in the Big Ten. And, most coaches in those leagues already know which high school players they want to recruit. So, instead of spinning your wheels contacting the universities which are on TV every week, have a frank conversation with your coach and other well-informed folks and compile a list of colleges whose coaches might want to pursue you. Then, ask your counselor which of the listed colleges makes sense from his or her perspective, and if there are others you should add to your list. Make sure you see and consider the whole picture, not just the colleges' athletic programs. Are the academic programs solid? Does the campus environment seem friendly? Do you like the location? And, the big question; Is it a college you might choose even if you were not an athlete? Ruling out colleges because you have not heard of them can be a big mistake. Do you know about Georgia Southern's football program? Do you know that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a perennial top ten softball program and has been to the College World Series in baseball? These are just two examples of schools you may know nothing about that have great programs. Remember that there is a lot of financial aid aside from athletic scholarships, and that there are some great athletic programs at the NCAA II and III levels. Never lose sight of the fact that the goal of leaving college with a good education should come before your athletic aspirations. Unfortunately, there are coaches out there, at all levels, who are more interested in winning games than educating student-athletes. If you suspect that you've encountered one, run, don't walk, in the opposite direction. Make sure you read up on the operative regulations governing recruiting and consult with your high school coach if you have questions or concerns. Strict adherence to all (NCAA, NAIA, and/or NJCAA) regulations is critical. Too learn as much as possible about the colleges you are considering, be sure to be in touch with admissions offices. They will provide you with much more comprehensive publications and information than you are likely to get from coaches. Coaches, to nobody's surprise, are very focused on athletics, while good admissions counselors are likely to know far more about academics, campus life, student support services, etc. Don't worry to much about listed college costs. What it will actually cost you may be far less. Of course, some coaches are deluged with email and snail mail from high school athletes, so you may not get a quick response when you contact them. Give them a month, and then try again. You may never hear from some of them. Don't take it personally...it just means they are already talking to the folks they want and that they could use a lesson in etiquette. And, be aware that even the coaches that do respond to you with letters, brochures and emails may not have a serious interest in you or may want to seriously recruit you only if the athletes in whom they are most interested decide to go elsewhere. That being the case, continue to communicate with all coaches who appear to be interested in you until you have and accept a firm offer from a college. It's the best way to protect yourself against disappointment. After you have commited to a college or university, send an email or letter thanking the coaches who showed some level of interest in you. Not only is it good manners, but it might help you if you later decide, for any reason, to transfer.
Article Source: http://www.articlegush.com
Daniel Z. Kane, now a university dean, is a former high school coach. You can find lots of helpful information on his websites about how to get an athletic scholarship , and online colleges . Click here for other unique athletic scholarships articles.
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