Cross country scholarships for college

I'm a junior in high school and a member of the cross country team. Are there specific scholarships available for athletes like me? Trying to figure out how competitive it is or what the requirements might be.

Yes, there are scholarships available specifically for cross country athletes, and they can be found at various levels. It's important to note that the most significant scholarships come from NCAA Division I and II schools.

NCAA Division I and II colleges can offer athletic scholarships to student-athletes. NCAA Division III colleges, however, do not offer athletic scholarships, but they can provide athletes with a range of other types of financial aid, such as academic scholarships. If you're looking at Division III schools, you will want to focus on building a strong academic profile as well.

Keep in mind that cross country is a sport where scholarships are not as plentiful as, say, football or basketball. Universities have fewer scholarships to offer for cross-country than other sports; typically, there are only about 17 scholarships for men and 17 for women per school. Therefore, competition is stiff. Some coaches may break up these scholarships and offer partial awards to more athletes.

The key requirements typically include a strong performance record in high school cross country events. Often, coaches want to see your times and will compare them to their athletes and incoming freshmen. You'll also need to meet the NCAA's eligibility requirements, which include maintaining a certain GPA, completing a certain sequence of high school academic courses, and in some cases, achieving a specified score on the ACT or SAT.

Reach out to the coaches at the schools you're interested in to express your interest and ask about their scholarship opportunities. Coaches can offer detailed information about what they're seeking in recruits. Just remember, in addition to being a top athlete, you'll want to present a strong academic profile as well.

Remember, you'll need to make sure to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if you're aiming for an athletic scholarship at a Division I or II school. Also, there are numerous other scholarship opportunities out there—organized by local community organizations, the government, private companies, etc.—that aren't specific to athletes, but that athletes can still apply for. Make sure to explore all your options.