There are many students in high school who dream of winning athletic scholarships from a reputed college or university. The publicity that many professional athletes receive while playing sports at a Division I or Division II school helps perpetuate the idea that these types of awards are fairly common. The truth is that there are many points about sports scholarships that need to be well understood before applying. This is partly because the application process can be incredibly competitive, and it may help to understand why.
The number of athletic scholarships is limited.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sets strict limits on the number of awards that can be given to students each year. These numbers are customized according to each type of sport. This means that there may only be a few scholars out of the thousands who apply to a school for a sport. Only Division I and Division II schools are eligible. The NCAA does not allow Division III schools to distribute aid based on athletic ability. There may also be restrictions on the number of time slots available at a school for a particular team. Students who qualify for assistance based on athletics generally need to secure a spot on the team to receive actual assistance.
The amount awarded can vary significantly.
Program and college directors have a certain amount of money to distribute toward all athletic scholarships that will be awarded. These amounts are limited by the NCAA. The Program Director may choose to divide the total amount of money equally among all students who will be admitted. Alternatively, the principal may choose to distribute funds unevenly, based on capacity. There are even cases where the distribution is completely arbitrary. Students who are eligible for a scholarship should understand that the amount is not guaranteed and may not cover a significant amount of the total cost of education.
Scholarships must be renewed every year.
Sports Scholarships are awarded for one year only. At the end of the semester, the student must maintain the academic standards of the NCAA and the university itself. The student's performance while competing in the chosen sport is also evaluated. Scholarship renewal is contingent on the approval of the program director and team coach. Lack of academic or athletic performance may lead to a situation where the scholarship is not renewed. It should also be noted that the actual amount awarded may also change each year.