College Resources: University Enrollment
Take Your Game To Another Level
Extracurricular Activities
If you're an athlete who wants to play a college sport, start your planning now! There are several steps that you have to take in order to take your game to the next level. We've listed some of them here for you:
- Start familiarizing yourself with the NCAA eligibility requirements as early as your sophomore year. For example, each athlete must meet minimum GPA requirements and have certain SAT/ACT scores.
- After August 1, 2008, the requirements for Division I schools will add more course requirements.
- Start looking at colleges from as early as the ninth or tenth grade.
- If you may be eligible for an athletic scholarship, you may have to sign a "National Letter of Intent" administered by the Collegiate Commisioners Association (CCA). The form demonstrates your intent to enroll at that specific school.
- Depending on the division of the school, the academic requirements may be different, but you need to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
- If you can, watch a college team practice to see how the coach relates to the team.
- Once you know where you want to apply, get in touch with the coaches at that school. Making contact to promote yourself may show the coach how serious you are about playing.
- According to NCAA regulations, coaches cannot contact you by letter until September 1 of your junior year.
- All high school athletes must register with and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse to determine whether all academic requirements are met. Visit www.ncaaclearinghouse.net for more details.
- Consider education and student life when you make your college choice.
- Consult the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete at www.ncaa.org.