There’s no doubt that sports admission in a US university is a complicated and long-drawn process, and one needs to tread carefully to successfully navigate this route. But, even before the sports admission process begins, there is a lot that a student-athlete needs to do. Preparing yourself as a capable sportsperson and understanding the requirements of the sports admission process are the first few steps. And, managing these properly will give you a better shot at getting admission into a top US University.
In this blog, we will discuss some important aspects that will help you prepare better for the sports admission process:
Start Preparing Early
When it comes to sports, the earlier you start, the better it is. For sports admission in a US university, it is recommended that a student-athlete start preparing from the 9th standard or before.
Proficiency in a sport is not something that develops overnight, and an aspiring student-athlete has to work hard from an early age to bring his/her game up to a competitive level. You need to realize that the sports admission process is a highly competitive one, arguably, even more, competitive than the conventional academic process. And, to successfully crack the admission, you need to develop a competitive spirit and discipline.
Manage Your Academic Performance
While you work on their sporting ability, be careful also about keeping your grades up. This is because, only when a student meets the academic eligibility requirements, will he/she be allowed to go through with the sports admission process.
Besides, having high grades and good scores in tests like SAT & TOFEL can give you an edge in this highly competitive process.
Consult a Counsellor
The sports admission process is too complex for students to manage alone, and, you need a proficient study abroad advisor who can help with valuable advice. Some of the areas in which a counsellor can help are:
- Giving an honest assessment of your sporting ability
- Sharing how you can become a more capable athlete
- Help build a sports resume, emails to coaches, etc
- Sharing which college division and scholarship type you can aim for
- Help attend Identification (ID) Camps or Showcase Events in the USA.
- Help contact college coaches & recruitment coordinators
- Explaining the eligibility requirements
- And, Guiding through the sports admission process
Understand NCAA
College sports in the US are governed by an authority called NCAA, which supervises sports in almost 1100 colleges, covering nearly half a million students. As many as 24 different sport categories are directed by the NCAA.
As stipulated by NCAA, the colleges are divided into three segments, i.e. Division I, II & III. The Ivy League, National, and regional level colleges fall under Division I & II, and under the Division III category fall the relatively smaller colleges.
The core difference between the divisions is the level of competition, budget & scholarship opportunities. In Division I & II colleges, the sports budget and the provision made for sports scholarship is quite high, but one needs to be a very competitive athlete to secure admission in these colleges.
The level of competition in Division III colleges is not as high, but the sports budget and provision for athletic scholarships is also far lesser as compared to Division I & II colleges.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) is another governing body that has two divisions and consists of around 300 schools.
Conclusion
Universities in the US provide a great opportunity for students to pursue sports without compromising their academics. Colleges in the US provide world-class sports infrastructure and they also give access to top coaches and trainers along with other assistance like nutritionists and physiotherapists. But, to get a fair shot at this you need to work hard and be well prepared, and if you persevere and get the right guidance, your dreams of studying in a top US university can become a reality.
