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Why Successful High School Student-Athletes are Attractive College Candidates

What is important to realize is that if you are a student-athlete, colleges are already interested in candidates such as yourself. Due to your ability to balance your academic and athletic lives during high school, colleges consider student-athletes as attractive candidates, and here’s why:

• Practicing matters and, practice makes perfect. Student-athletes during high school learn early on how to meet the expectations of demanding practices, academic and social obligations, and sometimes even part-time jobs, all being able to fit this into their daily schedules. Since they must learn how to set their priorities early and balance all of the moving pieces in their lives, many colleges recognize this and prefer candidates who can accomplish all of these important tasks. Overall, the ability to prioritize and balance responsibilities are ideal skills for a college student.

• The value of teamwork – student-athletes are used to doing everything they can to fit in and play as part of a team. This skill bodes well for student-athletes, who are faced with challenges such as being able to successfully live with roommates, participating in group-based study sessions, and working side-by-side with others in an art class or a science lab.

• The ability to be committed – commitment to a sport in high school demonstrates a student-athlete’s willingness to thrive in a rigorous atmosphere. It also shows that a student, who is able to commit to a team and stick with it, is mature enough to comport himself or herself well throughout college.

• Money – some Division I, II, and III schools offer athletic scholarships ranging from small awards to full rides that cover tuition, room and board, and other fees. However, be aware that these awards vary per year, and must be renewed. If a student-athlete becomes injured or doesn’t make the team, the money will not be available as it once was.

• Structured time makes for structured students – student-athletes have so much of their time structured and pre-scheduled, that they are often better able to handle this same rigor during college. Oftentimes, the ability to stick to a schedule and routine makes it a lot easier to manage and thrive in college.

At Choose It Right, our primary goal is to give you as much information as possible so that you can make financially informed decisions about your college, major and future career. To learn more about financial aid, borrowing, applying for college, academic and athletic scholarships and how to truly afford college, purchase the Smart College Report, at www.chooseitright.com