What Happens After An Athlete Commits?
The college admission process can be a stressful time for any high schooler, especially for those who are aspiring student-athletes. A student-athlete's commitment to a particular school can add an extra layer of complexity to the process of finalizing college plans and raise a lot of questions. As a college counselor, it is important to know how to properly counsel student-athletes who have committed to their chosen school. In this article, we will discuss the necessary steps that student-athletes must take to ensure a smooth transition to their college careers.
It helps to look at a few different common cases:
National Letter of Intent:
Locking up a commitment is the first and most crucial step for student-athletes who have decided on their chosen college. If they receive a D1 or D2 scholarship offer, then the most important deadline will be signing the National Letter of Intent (NLI) in November of their senior year (for most sports). The NLI is a binding document that signifies a student-athlete is committing to attending a specific college or university. This is the most rock-solid an athlete can feel about their commitment because it’s a binding contract with very few breaking points. In this case, the counselor and the athlete should feel very comfortable moving directly into the application process.
Admissions Help:
Alternatively, some schools offer different forms of admissions assistance, where coaches can help guide students through the admissions process and sometimes secure a spot at the school. If a student-athlete can get that commitment in writing it is a huge advantage because these are usually not binding agreements. Each university is different in the way that it treats these situations. Some will allow coaches to guarantee admission, while others will give a strong indication of probability. Commonly, coaches will be allowed to append a letter to the student-athlete’s application requesting their admission and talking about how important it will be to have them on the team next year. These letters are far from a guarantee, but they are very valuable in a tight application pool where any way to stand out from the crowd is a huge boost.
It is really important for counselors to determine with the families which type of offer was given by coaches. Families often hear what they want to hear in these situations and can convince themselves that they are on more solid ground than actually exists. If they can show the counselor an email or written communication from the coach with the terms of the offer it can put everyone in a much more comfortable place moving forward.
The Application Process:
Once the nature of the offer is concrete, the next crucial step is the college application itself. Every year, there are unfortunate examples of student-athletes that did not take the application process seriously enough, and although receiving scholarship offers, were ultimately turned down by the college.
THIS INCLUDES STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO SIGNED NLI AGREEMENTS! NOTHING IS GUARANTEED UNTIL THE SCHOOL ACCEPTS.
It is crucial that the student-athlete knows what they need to do to successfully complete the application process. This includes having a strong essay, submitting transcripts and test scores on time, and following any additional application requirements. Lack of effort in the essay and poor writing skills are the most common culprit for denial.
It is important for student-athletes to also have a backup plan in place in case anything goes wrong. Even if they have committed to their top choice school, sometimes injuries or other circumstances may lead to the opportunity lost. It is completely ethical to apply to a backup school as well as the school where they are going to play. I often counsel students to apply to Arizona State or somewhere similar, a place with a lot of positive qualities that athletes often look for and an easy application process with no extra essays or questions.
Another factor that should be mentioned is that student-athletes should be fully aware of their eligibility requirements for their chosen school and sport. Make sure they stay on top of their grades, test scores, and any other requirements so they can be eligible to participate in college sports. Knowing this information beforehand will make it easier for the student-athlete to properly manage their time between sports and academics.
There is still important work to be done by counselors after a student-athlete has committed to their college of choice, and it requires understanding the necessary steps that need to be taken, including locking their commitment, taking the application process seriously, having a backup plan in case anything goes wrong, and staying aware of eligibility requirements. As college counselors, it is important to guide these students through this process and ensure that they know everything they need to do to start their college careers on the right foot. By taking these steps, student-athletes can begin their college careers confidently, both academically and athletically.
