Before you begin your college search and look at the scholarship opportunities, it’s important to know exactly what athletic scholarships requirements are and what makes them different from academic awards. Athletic scholarships are special types of financial aid awarded based on an athlete’s ability in their particular sport or discipline. Generally speaking, when a student receives an athletic award, they are allowed to join teams at the institution in which they are receiving aid.
While there are many different criteria used in determining whether or not a student is eligible for an athletic scholarship, one commonality across the board is that these awards rely heavily on statistics and results that measure how well a prospective scholar will perform if selected. In addition, many of these awards come with specific guidelines regarding measurements in height, weight, overall speed, strength, experience in the field, ability to follow directions, and work effectively as a team player.
How The Athletic Scholarship Requirements Differ From Academic Awards
While athletic awards are given on an individual basis, unlike academic aid, which is generally awarded based on grades and test scores, these types of financial aid are unique in that each institution or school has its own set of requirements, which makes it harder for prospective students to receive them. As a result of this fact, many student-athletes end up joining other clubs or playing other sports while they’re still in high school, hoping to build their skills enough for admittance into either Division I or II colleges. However, most schools are looking for individuals interested in one specific sport and who have a proven track record of performance within that sport.
If you’re looking to apply for an athletic scholarships requirements, the best advice we can give is to always seek out information from your school guidance counselor or directly from admissions at the institutions you are considering attending. These representatives will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding qualifications and necessary testing, such as the ACT or SAT. Furthermore, they’ll often know about upcoming deadlines, eligibility requirements, and how much money is available through scholarships for students with certain qualifications. However, keep in mind that it’s not unheard of for members of a team’s coaching staff to contact local high schools inquiring about prospective student-athletes both athletically and academically before the beginning of each season.
It is important for high school athletes hoping to pursue an athletic scholarship or grant-in-aid through a particular college or university to note that the requirements given are just general guidelines and not hard rules.
