Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

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Student Athlete Timeline

We’ve put together a suggested outline for student athletes. This is only a sample guide and may not fit into your specific situation. Use it as a guide if you are serious about playing athletics in college.

Freshman Year

  1. Meet with counselor to discuss core classes
  2. Emphasize grades – Grade 9 counts!
  3. Attend sports camps of top choice schools
  4. Think realistically about your abilities
  5. Think about academic and career goals
  6. Begin sports resume
  7. Lean recruiting rules and regulations

Sophomore Year

  1. Keep grades up!
  2. Take PSAT or PLAN
  3. Continue to assess your skill level
  4. Attend sports camps or top choice schools
  5. Check admission and application processess
  6. Research collges of interest – MAKE CONTACT!
  7. Update sports resume

Junior Year

  1. Speak with counselor about career goals and course requirements
  2. Take SAT or ACT
  3. Refine list of possible college choices
  4. Update sports resume
  5. Continue to update top choice schools
  6. Create skills video
  7. Return completed questionnaires to coaches or fill out online questionnaire
  8. Obtain letters of recommendation from HS / SUMMER coaches – MAKE PERSONAL CONTACT!
  9. Register with NCAA Eligibility Center
  10. Attend sports camps of top choice schools

Senior Year

  1. Complete graduation/core course requirements
  2. Make sure you have registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and transcript has been sent
  3. Review carefully the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete available at http://eligibilitycenter.org and the NAIA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete
  4. Retake SAT/ACT in fall if needed
  5. Complete Amateurism Questionnaire
  6. Narrow college choices further: size, academics, location, athletics, finances, etc.
  7. Apply to schools that you would be happy at if you did not play a sport or were injured
  8. Send applications for admission and transcripts, pay attention to individual deadlines for colleges
  9. Follow recruiting rules with campus visits
  10. Send in FAFSA and/or CSS profile
  11. Sit down with parents/coach and weigh pros and cons of each school
  12. Send updated letter of interest to coaches with athletic resume and season/summer schedule
  13. Be sure of final choice and READ BEFORE singing any papers (know your rights and obligations) – keep on file
  14. Let coaches know when their school is no longer in the running. THANK them!