It Is Important To Weigh Options When Considering Athletic Scholarships For College

You have the dilemma all high school student athletes hope to consider. Several colleges are recruiting you, and all of them are offering you a full athletic scholarship. Each scholarship packet sounds ideal, but you don&t have a clue how to discern which one is best for you. Like any offer, you have to evaluate the pros and cons. Scholarship offers are no different. By weighing the options, and doing some deductive reasoning, you will narrow down your choices and ultimately accept the scholarship that is right for you.

When offered an athletic scholarship, you must evaluate all options carefully. The biggest draw to such an offer is the money. How much money does the scholarship packet provide? Although some schools offer more money than others, it should not be the deciding factor in accepting the scholarship. In short, don't necessarily jump at the offer that offers the most money. There may be restrictions attached.

Do your research and ask pertinent questions about restrictions. Some nonathletic scholarship prohibits you from using their money, if you are receiving an athletic scholarship. And the same could be true of the athletic scholarship. If you have more than one scholarship opportunities at a given school, the restriction would force you to give up additional monies that could finance your education.

Does the scholarship offer come from a college you believe is best for you? To answer this important question, you must consider a few things. Is the size of the school conducive to learning? Are the academics too rigorous or not challenging enough? Do you like the location of the school? What about the weather? This is crucial in that you may want to remain there upon graduation, so you must look at career opportunities beyond graduating.

Which college will provide you with the most opportunities to showcase your athletic abilities? No athlete wants to go off to college, participate in practice sessions, and then warm the bench because there are so many other good athletes on board. In that situation, you will never be able to grow and develop in your sport. Ask your high school coach if he knows, or if he can find out, how freshmen and sophomore athletes are treated. You will want to know exactly what you are walking in to.

If you can, make a college visit before deciding upon which scholarship to accept. Most athletic scholarships come with a nice perk of visiting the college on the university's dime. If this is this case, take advantage of it. Talk to other players and athletes about their experience at the school. Ask key questions: Did you get a fair amount of playtime as a freshman? How do you feel about the coaching instruction?

Your ultimate goal for accepting an athletic scholarship is to pursue a career as a professional athlete. Consequently, you will want to know about the college's history of cultivating and nurturing players to professional level. Be sure to ask how many college athletes went on to become professional sports players. What are their names and where are they now? How involved were the coaches in helping college athletes each professional standing?