Preparing for College: Exercising Your Options: Tips for Student-Athletes (continued)

To find out if you could make it at Division 2 colleges, send the coaches at a few Division 2 schools your information, statistics and a videotape of you playing. (Make sure to indicate which player you are on the videotape!) If you find that Division 2 coaches are very enthusiastic about your skills and are willing to offer you athletic scholarships, you may want to send your tapes and information to a few Division 1 schools, just to explore all of your options.

Division 3 schools differ from the other two divisions in financial support and philosophy. This division does not have athletic scholarships, although student-athletes can still get financial aid and other types of scholarships. Many Division 3 colleges operate on more of a participatory model than do the other divisions. At Division 3 colleges, athletics is considered to be on the same level as other activities, and student-athletes are definitely students first.

Even if you have the skills to compete at a Division 1 level, you must decide if you really want such a high level of commitment to your sport.

"Some student-athletes just want to play; others want to play at the highest level they can," says Hannon.

Each division offers its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to play sports primarily for fun, you may not want the sometimes all-consuming commitment of Division 1. But if you have a good shot at making it to the pros, Division 1 may be the best choice (remember, though, that very few players--even those in Division 1 college programs--advance to the professional level). If you are on the borderline between two divisions or between two colleges with differing levels of competitiveness in your sport, consider how much participation means to you: would you rather be in the starting lineup for four years in Division 3, or have a greater challenge but sit on the bench more often in Division 2?

"Go where you can compete as soon as possible, which means traveling with the team, improving as an athlete and gaining some success," advises Bruce J. Jones, counselor at Plymouth Middle School (MA) and experienced cross-country and track coach.

Playing by the Rules

If you're looking at Division 1 or 2 colleges, make sure that you fulfill all of the NCAA requirements by the time you graduate from high school. The NCAA requires that athletes in these divisions have completed a core curriculum with a minimum grade point average and a minimum SAT or ACT score. You could be forbidden from competing in college if you do not meet the eligibility requirements.

All high school athletes that anticipate participating in a Division 1 or 2 college program must submit their high school transcripts to the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. To make sure you fulfill the eligibility requirements, submit your high school transcript to the clearinghouse as early as possible, preferably in your junior year. Then, you'll have some time to schedule any courses you may need to fulfill eligibility requirements.