By Lori Tanaka
From the desk of: Joyce Wellhoefer
Most athletes underestimate the importance of performing well in the classroom and how far good grades can get you. Do not buy into this assumption that your athletic ability will make colleges overlook a low GPA. If the coach really wants you he can find a way to get you in, right? Not necessarily. Coaches can only help so much. You still have to go through the college admissions process just like everyone else. Lots of great players get turned down from big Division I programs because their grades or test scores were too low.
In addition, having good grades demonstrates that you are a hard worker and have a good work ethic; both of which are characteristics that all coaches love to see in their players. More importantly, excelling in the classroom, as well as in the pool, will expand the list of schools that you can swim for. This gives you more options and ultimately can give you more leverage over the coaches by the time you need to make your decision.
Another benefit for having high marks on your report card is getting more financial aid. Say your dream school didn’t have any athletic scholarships left but offered you a walk on position. Or, what if you are only getting looks from Division III schools, which don’t offer athletic scholarships at all? Having a competitive GPA and test scores can get you an academic scholarship, which pays for part, or sometimes full, tuition. Then you don’t have to let go of your dream of being a collegiate swimmer, just because of financial reasons. In the end, you have a lot more to offer to coaches and colleges if you’re good in the pool and in school.
