Playing the Field: What it takes to play NCAA Sports
Source/Author: Bonni Carney, Associate Director of College Counseling
October 29, 2015
The College Counseling Office at Shorecrest offers a robust catalog of programming to help students and their parents navigate the path to college. The most recent event offering was tailored toward students interested in continuing their athletic pursuits into college.
Read on for the Top 3 Takeaways from Playing the Field:
1. Student athletes will often develop two different lists during the college process - an academic list and an athletic list. The College Center and Athletic Department help student athletes find schools that match both
2. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of Junior Year. The eligibility center verifies:
a. Academic credentials
b. Amateurism credentials
3. The official college visit vs. an unofficial visit:
a. An official visit is:
i. Paid for by the university
ii. Specific dates available for the visit
iii. Before a university may invite a student on an official visit, the university must receive: transcripts, test scores, and confirm NCAA eligibility center registration
b. An unofficial visit is:
i. Paid for by the student
ii. May take unofficial visit at any time (outside a recruiting dead period)
The college Admissions Committee, not the athletic coach, has the final say on decisions made about applications. The panel of experts clarified the differences between a verbal agreement and the NLI (National Letter of Intent), as well as some other best practices for college-bound athletes.
For more information on a college search that includes competing in athletics, please contact the College Counseling Office or the Shorecrest Athletic Department.
