As a high school athlete looking to continue sports in college, I'm curious about scholarships related to sports. Where should I be looking for a comprehensive list of college scholarships for athletes?
There are a few strategies you can take to find sports scholarships for college:
1. NCAA: Check out the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) website. The NCAA awards scholarships and grants for student-athletes, totaling nearly $3 billion each year. There are scholarships available for different sports and at different division levels. Note that the NCAA doesn't award these scholarships directly; they're awarded by each individual college according to the NCAA rules.
2. College Athletic Departments: Each college's athletic website will typically provide information about its sports programs, including scholarships. It's wise to reach out to the athletic departments of the colleges you're interested in for the most accurate information, as it can differ by school.
3. High School Coach or Guidance Counselor: Your current coach and school guidance counselor can also be a great resource. They will often know about scholarships that are specific to your region or sport. Plus, having a recommendation from your current coach could have a major impact on your chances of winning a sport-related scholarship.
4. College Recruiting Networks: There are several companies that provide recruiting and scholarship information for a fee, such as NCSA (Next College Student Athlete). These can be useful resources, but be sure to vet them carefully before investing.
5. Scholarship Search Platforms: Use scholarship search platforms like Appily or Fastweb. These platforms have extensive databases of scholarships and can help athletes find sport-specific awards. Remember to apply filters that pertains to your sport or gender.
6. Local Community/Organizations: Your local community often has a list of scholarships from local sports clubs or organizations, which can be less competitive due to their regional nature.
Remember, being proactive in your search and starting early will give you a larger selection of scholarships to choose from.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.