APPLY TO STRONG ACADEMIC SCHOOLS

 As you might suspect, college coaches frequently work with admission officers to get student-athletes admitted who might otherwise not qualify academically or are “on the bubble.”  Of course, this does not mean a student whose academic profile is significantly below the school’s minimums will be accepted simply at the coach’s request.

However, if you are within a reasonable distance of a school’s SAT/ACT and grade requirements, and are an athlete the coach is seeking to add to his squad, the coach probably has a good shot at getting you into his school if he pushes hard enough. However, there are limits to what a coach can do. By working as hard as you can in the classroom and on the SAT / ACT exams, you greatly increase your odds.

At some schools, admission requirements may not be as stringent for recruits as they are for non-athletes.  Ivy League or NESCAC schools may require a student to possess at least a 3.6 GPA and 2200 SAT, yet a sought-after athletic recruit may only need to have a 3.3 GPA and 1950 SAT. Every situation is different though. Be prepared by working hard in the classroom and taking pride in your academics.

Remember, coaches at strong academic D-III schools seek good athletes just like their counterparts at the top D-I programs.  Their sports programs have every bit as much tradition and history, sometimes even more than the big D-I schools.  And when you graduate, you have an excellent chance of obtaining a great job or being admitted to a graduate school of your choice. 

The bottom line: use the athletic talents you have worked so hard to develop to give yourself a shot at getting accepted to one of the academic “reach” schools on your Target List.  You owe it to yourself to pursue the best possible academic education available.

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