How can I get a bowling scholarship for college?

I'm a competitive bowler, and I hope to offset college costs with a bowling scholarship. Anyone know how colleges handle bowling scholarships or which schools offer the best ones?

Scholarships for bowlers are relatively unique and not as well-known as, say, football or basketball scholarships. However, they do exist and can be a terrific way to offset some of your college costs!

The first step is zeroing in on schools that have bowling teams. College bowling, sanctioned by the NCAA, is an intercollegiate sport for women only - for men, bowling is recognized by the US Bowling Congress. The NCAA hosts a website where you can search for universities that sponsor bowling as a varsity sport, like Wichita State, University of Central Missouri, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, among others.

For a scholarship, you stand a better chance by showing that you've gone an extra mile to hone your bowling skills. Stats like your average score, high game, high series, and the frequency of how often you play or practice would all be relevant details to a bowling coach reviewing a prospect.

As for applying for scholarships, check each individual school's athletic department website for scholarship information and the process to apply. Often schools may offer not just athletic scholarships linked to your performance in the sport, but also additional grants and bursaries for students who demonstrate financial need or exceptional academic performance, among others.

In addition, there are also independent organizations that offer bowling scholarships to students, such as the United States Bowling Congress or the National Bowling Association.

Remember, the earlier you start navigating the process, the better your chances are! A good time to initiate contact with coaches is during your junior year of high school. You can email the coach directly, providing details about your bowling achievements and expressing your interest in their program. Good luck and strike it big!