Living the College Life: How Can I Strike a Balance Between Athletics and Academics?

Buy this book »

"You always have to think that what you do off the court is a direct reflection of not only yourself but your team, the university, and the community."- Melissa Culver, Northwestern University basketball player,  and Academic All-Big-Ten Conference honoree

College athletes are pressed like few other students. In addition to the class time and schoolwork that fill most students' schedules, those who play sports must balance academics with a full-time commitment to athletics. Actually, commitment is the main word here, the athletes say. They know that to succeed, they must ­com­pletely devote themselves to both their studies and their sport.

In this chapter, five student athletes at NCAA Division I schools address the immense challenges they face, from maintaining their focus on their sport to handling the routine pressures all students confront. They show both an appreciation of the chance to compete at such a high level and a keen understanding of the sacrifices required of them.

Students who stay on top of their academic obligations find that they're best prepared to concentrate on their sport. One key to that academic success is carefully managing their "free" time"time that's not committed to class, practice, competition, or traveling with the team. Wherever it's possible, student athletes say, use that down time to take care of current assignments, catch up on schoolwork, or even get ahead.

At the time he was interviewed, Matt Bertke, a swimmer at the University of Notre Dame, had been away from campus three of the previous four weekends due to travel with his team. Such a stretch, at least occasionally experienced by most athletes, can be taxing. He says he feels he's "always a little bit behind," and needing to catch up due the constant demands of his sport and his classes. But rather than stress out or blow off class work, he aims to do the best he can with the time he has.

Matt follows the guidance of his coach, who reminds team members of their priorities: studying and swimming. "You have to fit those things in your life first," before spending time with leisure activities such as hanging out with friends, says Matt. That's not always an easy decision, but it's one successful student athletes must make. Besides, Matt explains, your teammates are likely to be your best friends"you're going through the same experiences, and you're making the same sacrifices. Be assured you'll have plenty of time with those friends.

Setting aside study time to the exclusion of everything else helps Shauna Smith (University of Wyoming,) to excel academically. Shauna, a three-time NCAA All-American sprinter/hurdler and three-time Academic All-American, says that if organizational skills and prioritizing are critical for regular students, they're doubly urgent for student athletes. "I try to prioritize my schoolwork according to what needs to be done first," says Shauna, a business management major.