NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Read this entire article from Saturday’s Wall Street Journal about a doctor who incurred $250,000 in student loans and now owes $555,000.  Some of the “money” quotes are:

“Maybe half of it was my fault because I didn’t look at the fine print,”

“Unlike other kinds of debt, student loans can be particularly hard to wriggle out of. Homeowners who can’t make their mortgage payments can hand over the keys to their house to their lender. Credit-card and even gambling debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. But ditching a student loan is virtually impossible, especially once a collection agency gets involved. Although lenders may trim payments, getting fees or principals waived seldom happens.”

If you’re a decent HS athlete with great grades, you can avoid student-loans and play your sport in college.  You can also get a good portion of your school funded, reducing those burdensome student loans which can hang over you for decades.  If you’re a parent, plan for college expenses now.  Even if your oldest child is in 7th or 8th grade – start taking action now!  To find out more about how you can do that, go here.

Over 99% of all college student athletes go pro in something other than their sport.  So what will your profession be?  After having phone conversations with over 5,000 student-athletes, I’ve found that less than 10% have a real clear picture of what career field to pursue.  I’ve also learned that the vast majority of college students will change their major at least once while in college.  All of this is NORMAL.  So when I hear parents tell me that they’re going to wait until their kid decides what they want to do before looking at colleges, I cringe.  Waiting on researching colleges for any reason limits a child’s opportunities.

Part of deciding on career fields will be finding out what career opportunities are available in those majors.  Thanks to my colleague, Byron, here’s a link to help you research this topic.  Read the PayScale College Salary Report to gain insights on what you (your child) should major in.  Also, don’t forget that NCSA is with our student athletes until they graduate from college.  The life skills a child learns by navigating the recruiting process are transferable to the job search.

If you’ve read these pages enough, you know that a college decision is a life-altering, life time decision.  To make that decision without fully understanding the vast landscape of opportunities available is irresponsible at best and negligent at worst.  Another motivation for doing all you can to make a great college choice is found in Bob Greene’s article talking about great, enduring friendship.

On the heels of last week’s news that Division I athletes had reached their highest graduation rates ever is another statement from the NCAA that further destroys the myth of the dumb jock; The NCAA says that the latest federal graduation rates show that athletes in the biggest college-sports programs continue to graduate at rates higher than those of their non-athlete peers.

Said Walter Harrison, chairman of the NCAA’s D1 Committee on Academic Performance, “There’s a lot of evidence now that there is a sea change going on culturally in college athletics. Academics is a far more important focus for our coaches, our athletics staff, and our athletes than ever before.”

Patrick Dayton has been nominated our NCSA Baseball Student-Athlete of the Month for September. He is from Archer City, Texas and graduates in 2010. Patrick is a 6’0” 180 pound infielder who was named to the All-State Honorable Mention Team as a junior after hitting .500 in 54 at bats. He was also named to the All-Area 1st Team his first two years of high school hitting .394 his freshman year and .438 his sophomore year.

If you can believe it, Patrick excels more in the classroom. He has a 4.34 GPA on a 4.0 scale, is ranked #1 in his class, and scored a 1460 on the two-part SAT (including a perfect 800 on the math section). On top of baseball and academics, Patrick’s math and science teams have placed in the top 6 in four different math and science competitions. Patrick is looking to study engineering in college and NCSA is very proud to name Patrick Dayton our NCSA Baseball Student-Athlete of the Month for September.

The quest to find the right college for a student-athlete is a challenge that we here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association readily accept with open arms. We understand not only what it means to families to have their student-athlete comfortable and excited to be attending the university of their choice, but we also understand the passion and desire that our student-athletes have to find that particular university. We also understand how important it is for college coaches to be matched up with qualified student-athletes who will help their universities grow both academically and athletically. With this being said, we here at NCSA will do everything we can to match student-athletes with universities that we feel would be a good fit. But when it’s all said and done, it’s up to the student-athletes to visit these schools, meet these coaches and decide for themselves if they truly see themselves being members of that university for the next four years of their lives. So how does a student-athlete go about doing this? How do they put themselves in the best situation possible to meet coaches and visit schools? They should be utilizing a somewhat untapped resource and with this I would like to introduce the unofficial visit.

For those student-athletes who have seen movies like The Program, He Got Game and Blue Chips, the recruiting process might seem like a dream come true. In The Program, Darnell Jefferson is welcomed to Eastern State University by a charter bus filled with cheerleaders. NBA superstar Ray Allen plays the main character in He Got Game and is whisked away from campus to campus for weekends of fun and spoil. Several “blue chip” prospects in Blue Chips receive gifts and frequent visits from the coaching staff. One thing each and every parent, coach and student-athlete needs to know is that these are movies attempting to depict a very long and difficult process. For the majority of high-school athletes, the best way to get a feel for a school and a coach is to take advantage of the unlimited amounts of unofficial visits a recruit can take during their four years of high school.

One might ask, “What is an unofficial visit and what other kinds of visits are there?” Great question. An official visit is one where the cost of part of the visit is incurred by the school. For example, a recruit is invited to visit the campus and during their visit the school will pay for their flight, hotel room and meals. These are less common than unofficial visits and are heavily regulated in terms of how many a school is allowed to give out and how many a student-athlete can attend. The alternative is the unofficial visit, where a student athlete visits the campus on their own and pays for it themselves. Although it may be less glorious than the official visits depicted in films, it is just as effective in terms of finding a school that you would be comfortable and eager to attend. Did I mention that you can take an unlimited amount of unofficial visits? Read on…

So let’s say you are a student-athlete and this blog has inspired you to take some unofficial visits…but you don’t know how to go about it. Here is your crash course to the unofficial visit.

First, come up with a list of schools and programs that you are interested in learning more about. Basically, you want to narrow down your list to schools you would realistically like to attend and compete for. Next, pick a weekend where you know the coach of your respective sport will be on campus. Football and basketball games are very popular events for coaches to entertain recruits, so pick a weekend where there is a game such as football or basketball. Next, you want to contact the coach to let him or her know that you will be visiting that weekend. Ask if they can give you a few minutes of their time to meet and possibly answer some questions that you may have (hint, hint…come prepared with academic and athletic questions for the coach). Next, contact admissions and also make them aware of your visit. Campuses are constantly giving tours and you want to make sure you see the campus in its entirety because it will be your home for the next four years. You also want to have a main contact in the admissions department to answer any questions you may have before, during and after your unofficial visit.

So now you’ve got your game plan to schedule some unofficial visits, but what is it that coaches are looking for when a recruit comes to campus. Marc Thibeault, head coach of John Carroll University’s baseball team, explains what he is not looking for.

“I can’t tell you how many times a recruit shows up with holes in his jeans, hat backwards, earring in and really has no questions when they visit. “

Coach Thibeault looks for potential student-athletes who can carry themselves well both on and off the field. Making a good first impression when meeting coaches is essential, and your appearance is key. A great point Coach makes is the ability of the recruit to ask meaningful questions during their visit. Think of it as a job interview; when your potential employer asks if you have any questions and you say “Nope, I think we’re all good here,” they are going to take that as a lack of preparation and excitement on your part when it comes to becoming a member of their team. College coaches will view this the same way.

When asked about some good questions for recruits to ask on their visit, Coach Thibeault had a few in mind.

-What did your graduating class end up doing upon diploma?

-How many freshmen ended up playing 4 years?

-What are the years of players playing my position?

-What were the credentials of last years recruiting class?

The above questions are great things to ask coaches and by asking these questions, a recruit shows the coach that they are interested, committed and eager to contribute to the program.

The bottom line is that no one buys a car without test driving it. No one gets married without dating first and no recruit should commit to a school without visiting campus. So instead of waiting by the phone or the computer for a coach to invite you for an official visit, maximize the unlimited amount of unofficial visits you can take and put yourself out there. The recruiting process may seem less glorious than depicted in the movies, but the end result of choosing the right school is all the glory a recruit needs.

As I awoke to the blaring of my alarm clock, I rolled over and checked the time to make sure that I was indeed waking up at the right hour. It read 4:30 AM, and yes, this was the correct time for me to be waking up today, even though the sun was still an hour away from rising. I rolled out of my temporary bed for the week which was a pull-out couch in the condo that my family had rented. We were in Knoxville, Tennessee for the 17 & Under AAU National Olympics and my traveling baseball team, the Redshirts of Chicago, Illinois had the misfortune of being slated for a 9 AM game this morning. Pregame for us started at 7:30 AM, which meant getting to the field at 7 AM, after an hour drive to the field. As I gradually awoke from my sleep I began to pull on my uniform and quickly noticed that I was not the only one up. My mom had heard my alarm go off and was in the kitchen putting a cooler together for me as the temperature would undoubtedly reach into the 90’s that day. As I munched on a bowl of cereal and a banana, she wished me luck for the game and went back to bed for another hour or so.

The above situation was something that occurred often in my house ever since I started playing baseball at the age of 5. My dad coached me from my first t-ball game until I joined my traveling team at age 14 and both of my parents made every attempt possible to attend every game that they could. Family road trips were common and the sacrifices my entire family made, including my younger sister, should not go unnoticed. Summers basically revolved around my baseball schedule and for this I am grateful for everything that my family has done for me over the years to encourage my growth both athletically and as a person. This is why I urge all student-athletes, especially those who are involved with the National Collegiate Scouting Association, to be appreciative and thankful when it comes to their families, especially their parents. Without our parents and guardians, we as student-athletes would not have the means to play the sports we love and attend the school of our choosing. Uniforms, equipment, rides and time are just a few of the things that parents contribute to us and we should work hard everyday to make their sacrifices well worth it.

Emily Simpson attended Saint Louis University and played four years for the Women’s Club Soccer team. The time she spent at SLU was truly memorable both for soccer and academics, but when asked about the role her parents played in her development as an athlete, she voiced the true appreciation she has for them.

“My mom went to every soccer game she possibly could, even to a few in college, while my dad made it to the games he could due to his heavy work schedule. My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life, even when it comes to my activities like soccer.”

As young people growing up, we sometimes lose sight of the sacrifices and hard work our parents commit in order to help us become better athletes and better people. Now a 22 year-old college graduate, Emily spoke about her parents during her youth playing soccer.

“When I was younger, they would either take turns taking me to every soccer practice and game or found a way to get me there.”

Again, to us as student-athletes, it seems common and assumed that our parents help us in any way possible. At the very least, as high-school athletes, collegiate-athletes and perhaps beyond, we should act in accordance with the values and commitments of our parents. When it’s all said and done, we are given the means to succeed athletically and academically because of the opportunities they have provided for us.

For those student-athletes that are enrolled with NCSA, take the time to thank your parents for giving you the opportunity to utilize our services and maximize your college recruiting experience. Time and time again we here at NCSA see parents and guardians going above and beyond to provide our services for their children, services that will undoubtedly help these student-athletes achieve their goals on the playing fields and in the classrooms. Not only should these student-athletes thank their parents, but they should also make decisions that will be a reflection of the commitment their parents have made.

Luke Powers, a former basketball player at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, spoke fondly of his parents and all of the work they did to provide him the means to play basketball in high school at Loyola Academy in Chicago and beyond.

“My parents were always there to support me and my basketball career. Every time I needed a ride to practice or a game they were always there to be counted on. When I got to John Carroll to start playing, their support continued and it felt great to make them proud of my achievements. I owe it all to them.”

Emily and Luke are just two student-athletes who understand the true commitment and sacrifice that their parents have made over the years. I strongly urge the hundreds of thousands of other student-athletes across the country to do the same, especially those who are involved with NCSA. I personally know that I would not be anywhere close to the person I am today without the support and dedication of my parents.

There was a running joke amongst the baseball parents at John Carroll University that every time my parents came to campus to see a game, I would have the game of my life. Specifically, the mothers all had a theory that it was because my mom was there to watch me, and they very well could have been right. I tried to make my parents proud whether it was performing well in the classroom or committing myself to the team at JCU. So please, take the time to thank your parents, your guardians and even teachers and coaches who have given you the opportunity to play the sport you love so much. Make them proud by the way you carry yourself on and off the field, because someday you will hope that your children follow the same path that you once did. Besides, it really is the least you could do.

The fall sports season is truly one of the most exciting times in all of the sporting world from the high school level, collegiate level and on to the highest ranks of the professional sporting leagues. As Major League Baseball enters their postseason play, the National Football League kicks off their season and the puck drops for the National Hockey League. High school athletes are in mid-season form for their respective sports and the same goes for college athletes across the country. What is so magical about this time of the year is that while so many sports are going on congruently, at so many different levels, one major lesson is to be learned by everyone participating in these sports. Whether you are taking the field as a professional athlete or waking up early for off-season training for your high school or college, one thing is happening to all athletes. They are being taught the values of hard work, commitment and dedication by their parents, coaches, teachers and teammates. To many, sport is merely that; a game that is played by people of all ages and that it is merely a game. However, those who understand sport at a much deeper level know that it is so much more than just a game. The lessons that are learned and the work ethic that is instilled in athletes are truly amazing. Let’s take a look at a few examples of how athletes use what they’ve learned in sport and have applied them to everyday life.

Nothing has changed for Trevor Heffernan in terms of his schedule since he graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his days at WMU, he would wake up at 4 and 5 AM for early morning skate with the Men’s Ice Hockey Club Team where he played goalie, and then head off to school for a full day of classes. This routine was engrained within Trevor so when it was time for graduation, he was well-practiced in the ability to be a hard worker no matter what he was doing. Whether it was working down at the Chicago Board Options Exchange upon graduation or working on his family’s farm in upstate Illinois, Trevor always put 110% into whatever it was he was doing.

“The bonds I formed with my teammates playing hockey are unbreakable. It was these bonds that taught me the value of counting on the person next to you, whether it’s on the ice or working on my family farm. You need to commit and work towards your goals regardless of what they are.”

Today, Trevor’s main priority is preparing his family farm, Susanna Farms, for the annual harvest, which is a month long celebration of the history and natural beauty of the vast acreage of their farm. To be more specific, Trevor spends countless hours making sure things are prepared for hayrides, pumpkin picking and his pride and joy, the First Annual Haunted Hayride.

“I understand and appreciate the great history that this farm represents. Everything I learned about respect and dedication, I put towards this farm and getting it ready for other people to enjoy it as I have.”

Trevor is a true example of how playing college athletics can not only mold you physically to perform at a high level on the fields, courts and rinks, but more importantly, mold you mentally to be an all-around better person.

Kellen Kmiecik began his collegiate career playing baseball at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. He soon found opportunity elsewhere at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. During his college years, Kellen competed in several prestigious summer leagues including invite-only leagues in Alaska and South Carolina. In January, Kellen will head to Arizona to compete in an invite-only league so professional teams can evaluate his talent. However, Kellen brings the same passion and determination to the baseball diamond that he brings when he helps his father run the local Recreational Center in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

“I enjoy my time at the recreational center because it is a great way to give back to the surrounding area and it’s so enjoyable to see all the kids come in here and play the sports they love to play.”

When I asked Kellen if playing baseball, especially at the collegiate level, had anything to do with this, his response was precise.

“I learned everything I know about respect, focus, hard work and dedication from playing baseball. I was always taught from an early age that playing baseball is about ability and respect. There is a right way and a wrong way to play the game, and I play the game the right way. I try and live my life the way I play the game.”

Parents often worry about their student-athlete as they head off to college for their freshman year in terms of academics and athletics. Will they play enough? Will they get a good education? Will they make the right decisions? Both Trevor and Kellen are great examples of student-athletes becoming upstanding, respectful citizens upon graduation. So much goes into being a collegiate athlete that is behind the scenes, and those who can’t handle the responsibility of hard work, dedication, commitment and respect will quickly make the adjustment or fade away.

The first step towards finding the right school for your son or daughter is through an aggressive and meaningful recruiting process. We here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association understand what it takes to not only be a student-athlete, but also be a well-rounded citizen. We understand the process and the requirements better than anyone in the business and we urge you to take that first step towards starting that recruiting process. The road may seem long and harrowing, but what lies beyond it for your future student-athlete is truly amazing and will make you proud.

The NCAA often makes headlines for extravagant athletic budgets.  Powerhouses like Ohio State pour millions of dollars into their athletic departments fueling the passion of their fans as well as critics of the commercialization of collegiate athletics.  However, the critics usually ignore the unprecedented level of academic support that has increased over the last few years.  A just released NCAA study confirms that academic support is still on the rise.

Almost 92 percent of Division I institutions report that spending on academic support for student-athletes remained steady or increased since 2007, even though more than half of those schools cut overall athletics spending in the wake of the national economic downturn.

The finding was part of an NCAA study this summer of academic-support services for student-athletes at Division I institutions. The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) assisted with the survey, which was a follow-up to a similar study in 1998.

The study also showed that more institutions reported coaches becoming more supportive of the academic success of their student-athletes, an effect tied directly to the increase in academic standards brought by enhanced progress-toward-degree requirements and other policies established by the Academic Performance Program.

The study found that most schools experienced between a 1 to 20 percent increase in total spending on academic programs over the last two years, with 12 percent reporting even greater increases. At the same time, overall reductions on athletics spending were identified.

Football Bowl Subdivision members reported spending more on academic-support services than their counterparts in the Football Championship Subdivision and Division I programs without football. The median total academic-support budget reported at the FBS level was $655,000, compared with about $150,000 in other subdivisions. Similarly, more FBS institutions reported greater use of academic resources among their student-athletes than those in other subdivisions.

FBS schools also reported that they were more likely to provide a broader array of academic-support services than those in the other subdivisions. Most schools, however, offer assistance with course selection, degree-progress monitoring, class-attendance checks, study-hall facilities, course-specific tutoring and computer labs for student-athletes.

Many institutions reported requiring the use of academic-support services, such as study hall, for incoming freshmen student-athletes. Though recent NCAA data collected through the APP have indicated that many incoming transfer student-athletes are at risk academically, fewer schools are likely to require transfers to take advantage of the academic-support opportunities available to them.

As schools continue to fight for recruits, they have realized that having elite academic support has become a key component to a student athlete’s decision process.  Athletes realize how much their collegiate decision will affect the next 40 years of their lives and are factoring in more than just athletics.

I speak to student-athletes on a daily basis who are serious students and are unclear on what demands are placed on athletes when they arrive on campus.  Even in each division of the NCAA, demands vary greatly from one institution to the next.  So it’s important that the student-athlete is empowered with the skill set to determine what school will be best for them.  After all, a student-athlete’s college decision will impact them for the next 50-60 years!

With that in mind, here’s a blog post from an NCSA student-athlete who found the perfect fit.  How many NCAA D1 athletic teams would allow a student-athlete to study abroad during their senior year?  Read her blog and let me know if her college choice was the best for her:

She writes:  

Hi all! My name is Melissa and I am a senior in London on Colgate’s Economics Study Group. I am not the blogging type, but I am super excited to be able to take you all on my journey with me. I hope I do not bore you and, in advance, please forgive my many typos. I hope you can make it until December because I promise it will be worth it!

I arrived at my flat in central London about 10 days ago. It was an interesting adventure getting here (about 7 hours on a plane, an hour on a train, half an hour on a bus and half an hour walking aimlessly) but I made it and I love it! London is absolutely beautiful! Words cannot explain it.

I am already into my second week of classes. For the Economics Program, we are required to take The British Economy, The EU, International Economics, and a theatre course. I know the course titles are not creative or intriguing, but I assure you the classes have already far exceeded my expectations. To give you an example, yesterday all of the Colgate London groups attended “As You Like It” in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which is an exact replica of the original minus, of course, the electrics. I had no idea how I was going to enjoy a play standing for three hours and exposed to the elements (it was supposed to rain, thankfully it didn’t). Turns out I ended up dancing, laughing, and meeting new people. I have been to plays before, but never have I enjoyed myself so much. It was a great experience. If you are ever in London go the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

By the way, this SA was a captain and hit .418 for her softball team last season.   She found the right fit, athletically, academically, the right balance between those 2 and an affordable financial aid package for her parents.  Find out how you can do the same here.