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How to Get Paid to Play Sports in College

By U.S. News & World Report

Rachel Scott knew back in middle school that she wanted to play softball for a top team in college and get a scholarship to do so. So as an eighth-grader, she drew up a list of universities whose teams she admired and started emailing the coaches.

“I’d say, ‘My name is Rachel Scott. I’ve attached my resume, and I’m playing at this tournament near you,'” Scott says. “I did that through 10th grade.”

Whether or not anyone ever showed up to watch her, Scott definitely got noticed. After her junior year playing for Plano East Senior High School in Texas, her coach started hearing from colleges she had targeted. She settled on the University of Texas–Austin, where she earned a partial sports scholarship to play for the Longhorns, a Division I team.

[Check out these scholarships for student-athletes.]

Scott, who earned her bachelor’s in business in 2015 and stayed on to get a master’s in advertising, supplemented the award with a handful of other financial awards, including academic scholarships from the university and from her hometown church.

The competition for athletic scholarships can be as fierce as any encountered on the playing field, so winning a grant requires starting early. The probability of high school athletes competing on an NCAA Division I or II team ranges from 1 percent to 5 percent for men and 1 percent to 9 percent for women depending on the sport, according to the NCAA. The probability of making a Division III team is higher, but those teams don’t offer athletic scholarships.

The 250-plus colleges and universities that participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics also offer some $500 million in scholarships. The NAIA has added a variety of scholarship-eligible sports to the usual roster in recent years, including competitive cheer and lacrosse.

So what’s the best strategy? While NCAA coaches are not allowed to start recruiting high school students until the summer after junior year, they are certainly paying attention earlier. Coaches attend high school tournaments, check out player stats online, and start making lists of potential future recruits. So it’s important to get on the radar.

[Read four tips before you pursue athletic scholarships.]

Make sure any email you send is tailored to the school and coach, advises Julianne Soviero, who played Division I softball and is now a sports consultant and author of “Empowered Recruiting: A Student-Athlete’s College Selection Guide.”

You could say “something like ‘Congratulations on your recent win against UCLA. I was particularly excited to see Hofstra beat such a highly ranked school and advance in the playoffs.'” After that, she says, you should list your recent athletic accomplishments and academic achievements.

Don’t be afraid to brag about your grades and SAT scores. “We want to make sure our prospective student athletes are able to do well in college and that they have the foundation to succeed and to graduate,” says David Schnase, vice president of academic and membership affairs for the NCAA.

Towards that end, the NCAA has tightened its eligibility rules, mandating as of 2016 that all Division I recruits, for example, maintain a GPA of 2.3 throughout high school — vs. the old standard of 2.0 — and that they complete 10 of 16 required core courses in English, math and science, for example, before the start of senior year.

The rules vary by division. All student athletes are required to maintain certain academic standards in college for their scholarships to renew.

Most athletes don’t get a full ride; the average award ranges from $12,359 to $17,529 per student per year for NCAA players and $12,537 in the NAIA, according to ScholarshipStats.com. But coaches often work with the financial aid office to add to the package.

[Explore tips and resources about paying for college.]

Even if you’re not offered enough at the outset, the coach might entertain an appeal. “If a coach offers $10,000 every year, and Mom and Dad really need $15,000, it’s OK to ask,” says Tiffany Christian, assistant athletic director of compliance at the College of William and Mary, a Division I school. That’s especially true if you have a better offer from another school.

But be honest, advises Christian, who herself played soccer at Washington State University and Boston University. “It’s a small business. Coaches will call each other” to check on reported offers, she says.

Is it smart to post an online resume and video of yourself in action at one of the many sites that offer this service? It’s not a bad idea, says NAIA spokesman Lynn Meredith.

But he recommends including more than just the highlights. “If you’re a football player, coaches want to see how quickly you get to the huddle,” he says. “Put a whole game out there.” The idea is to allow anyone you’d like to impress to see you giving it your all.

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News “Best Colleges 2017” guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.

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How to Get Paid to Play Sports in College originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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