subject: Pursuing Your Academic Dreams With Athletic Scholarships [print this page] With so much cost involved in pursuing a degree from any college, most of the students look for scholarships. There are many kinds of scholarships awarded by different institutions, in different fields, according to their ability. One such type is the athletic scholarships. This is a kind of scholarship in which the colleges admit students on basis of their athletic abilities. The costs of the education, is waived for such students. Some students have exceptional talent that is recognised at the high school level itself. However others have to strive hard for an academic scholarship. Thousands of students are involved in varsity programs in high school. Many of them, if not all, must be thinking of actively finding an athletic scholarship. Every student has a dream college and they need to let that college know what they can do for the home teams. Also they need to maintain an edge over others in the face of such fierce competition.
Here are some tips which will eventually help in landing an athletic scholarship:
The most important thing is to approach on your own. Coaches appreciate such applicants who make the first effort. Waiting for a call is a mistake, as there are thousands of applicants and you may even miss the chance. You must contact the coach of the college in which you want to study, and try to find out their needs. Taking the first step will accelerate your recruiting process and you will also get to know what they are looking for.
Do pay heed to all the emails and letters, even if they are not from the list of your preferred colleges. Not replying to such communication means you are not interested, and in this way you lose opportunities. Who knows, the last choice may turn out to be the only one you have eventually.
It is of utmost importance to be professional while looking for athletic scholarships. Remember there are no second chances in life. Your first impression on the coach and administrators will be the best one. Any form of irresponsibility or immaturity may cost you. Also maintain respect of the other persons involved, because the coach is not the only person who makes the final decision. There are others who can influence the coach in the case of assessing student behavior, because good behavior is also considered as an important trait in any athlete.
Try to build a relationship with the coaches and make sure to maintain that. A letter from the university or college doesn't mean your goals are achieved. Following up is also important, as this will prompt the coaches to show interest in your case. This relationship will help you in case you get selected, because ultimately you have to work with the coach.
Now with the advent of Internet, the job of searching is made easy for both the students and coaches. There are many forums and sites where you can interact with others, and there is a lot that you can learn just by being part of one such community. Pick up tips and hints and prepare well in advance.
