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123's for College Bound Athletes
updated 11/05/07
1. Work hard both off and on the field. Playing well is the key to being noticed but GPA and SAT will open the door to college. Print out a copy of NCAA Guide For College Bound Athletes. This will help you plot a course for the remainder of your high school years.
Please note: Membership in the NCAA is NOT necessary for junior or two year colleges. GPA and SAT are very important in these schools. They do not want to invest in a player who can't make the grade. Some schools have asked perspective homeschooled students to obtain a GED and submit SAT scores before admittance.
2. Register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. As a Homeschooling parent, you will need to keep great records! Below is a quote from the NCAA Eligibility web site concerning Homeschoolers.
| "Students
who were home schooled for any part of high school (grades nine
through 12) must now register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility
Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse will determine whether they
will be eligible for practice, competition and institutional
financial aid at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution
during their freshman year. The clearinghouse will perform preliminary and final certification reports for home-schooled students. The preliminary analysis of a student's academic record will enable the student to become aware of any deficiencies in their academic record and allow the student to rectify those deficiencies prior to high-school graduation. It is important to note that before a preliminary certification may be performed, the clearinghouse must receive the student release form (or registration form, which may be completed via the Internet), the registration fee, a transcript with at least six semesters represented, and official test scores on the ACT and/or SAT. After high-school graduation, once the clearinghouse receives the student's final transcript and proof of graduation, the clearinghouse will perform a final certification." NCAA: http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/parent-prospect/index.html The information that will need to be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse once you have registered: Transcript (or transcripts if you took any course work outside the home school), including.
Standardized test score (ACT and/or SAT) presented in one of two ways:
Proof of high-school graduation including graduation date. Evidence that home schooling was conducted in accordance with the laws of your state and List of texts used throughout home schooling (text titles, publishers and in which courses used). *If you are attending a small high school and would like to check to see if it is accredited visit NCAA Clearinghouse approved courses. Type in High School name. 3. Register for the SAT through College Board or ACT online. Upon registering for the SAT when adding colleges for score reports, add the NCAA Clearinghouse. It's code is 9999. The NCAA Guide for College Bound Athletes will help you determine the GPA and SAT scores needed for eligibility. Having an 1100 combined on the verbal and math will, in most cases, be rewarded with an academic scholarship. |
4. Visit colleges before your senior year. Try to spend Sophomore & Junior year taking one day trips to colleges of interest. Contact your coach and ask him to call the college coach and set up an available date for you to meet. These visits usually consist of the College coach showing your around campus, talking about what his expectations will be, and there will be a short try out. Try to observe your favorite school's teams in game situations.
5. Get on a Showcase team by your Junior year. Look for a team that will be playing where College coaches and big league scouts are present. Make the most of every minute on the field. Coaches and scouts may come to see one person but if you shine...they will take notice. This is a very important tool for acquiring invitations to different events and schools. This will open doors to more college opportunities and draft status.
6. In your Junior year try to decide if a 2 year or 4 year school is what your interested in. Each has their benefits and drawbacks. This will narrow down the schools you will want to visit or entertain a try out with.
7. Larger four year schools often have commitments from the "best" players by the end of their Junior year. "Best" players are often those in larger public school teams. Smaller four year or two year schools will be out looking and making offers the fall and spring of Senior year. Colleges will first contact your coach then the student. Colleges and scouts want to speak directly to perspectives. Some colleges will call and offer scholarships over the phone and request a visit with the athlete. Most will request a visit and tryout, then an offer will be made. Athlete, always be polite! Your courtesy or lack of will develop a likewise reputation.
8. Senior year, get a physical! College coaches will sometimes ask for a documented Physical gotten within the past 5-6 months.
9. In the Senior year, visits are really invitations from college coaches. On a Senior year visit, the school can feed and place the athlete in a dorm or hotel. This can not be done before the Senior year. Visits usually consist of a tour around the school and a tryout. Most visits are for the day others may be overnight. We've had a visit last for a couple of hours and one last for two nights and three days.
10. Please know when a college offers a scholarship it is on a year by year basis and may not cover all your school expenses. Expenses can include: tuition, books, food, and housing. Ask if there are other scholarships or grants to help. In Georgia, Home School students can not receive the HOPE scholarship their first year BUT with a 3.0 GPA, their sophomore year HOPE will reimburse them. In South Carolina the Life Scholarship (up to $5000 per year) will help out if the Home School student has an 1100 combined math and verbal on the SAT.
As we progress through our final year of baseball, I will add more to this page to help others that are coming along. -Angie Smith
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