After putting in all of the hard work throughout your recruiting process, you then must go through the application process just like any other student. Depending on where you are in your recruiting process, you may apply to only one school you have verbally committed to, or several schools because you are keeping your options open.
It is important that during this time you continue to stay organized and manage your time wisely to make sure you are submitting all of your forms and college applications on time. Here we will break down the important steps you must do during your college application process.
Test Scores and College Applications
SAT and ACT Scores
For some highly selective colleges or universities, SAT/ACT scores are a very important aspect of your application. However, there are many colleges (over 2,000 four-year institutions) that are "test-optional", meaning they do not require you to submit your scores as part of your application. You would still have the option to submit your scores as part of your college application, but it would be wise to speak to the coaching staff or an admissions counselor at the school prior to doing so.
Keep in mind that you will have the option to take practice exams for both standardized tests, and you are able to take the SAT or ACT as many times as you want. However, we'd recommend taking the test no more than 5 times.
Some schools will allow you to use your “Super Score”, which takes the best overall grade from each section, even if they were from different test dates. Do your research to see whether schools you are applying to accept Super Scoring.
The better your scores on the SAT/ ACTs, the more options you will have when looking at colleges. Standardized test scores can also help strengthen your application if your GPA is not as high as the college typically accepts. Lastly, these standardized tests can qualify you for scholarships, grants, and merit aid from colleges or outside organizations. This is why it is important to be upfront about where you stand academically in your communication with college coaches, so they can be direct about your chances of being academically accepted into their school.
Applying to Colleges
Depending where you are in your college recruiting process, the number of schools you are applying to may be different. If you are a student-athlete that has an active verbal commitment, a college coach will may ask you to apply early decision, depending on the school's admissions process. There is typically an application deadline of around November 1st of your senior year to apply ED. Remember, if you apply early decision to a school and you are accepted, this is a binding agreement, and you must attend that institution.
There are other application choices as well, including Early Action, Rolling (no set deadline), or Regular Decision. Each of these applications will have different deadlines. It is important to stay organized and know when these deadlines are. That information can typically be found on each school's admissions website.
The admissions process will also vary by college. You can anticipate a completed application form, official transcript, and an application fee to be required for most schools that you apply too. Some schools may have a process where the application fee is waived or discounted, and you can ask the admissions office how you may qualify for that.
Additional required materials may vary by school, as some may require a personal statement, additional essays, or letters of reccomendation. It is important to visit the school's admissions site to review the requirements they will need for the admissions process.
Also, take the time to find out what schools are on the Common App. This will allow you to avoid filling out the same information multiple times and have all of your application information in one place. The Common App currently has a a database of over 1,100 schools that you can submit applications for. Make sure to speak with your admissions counselor or college counselor at your high school before you start the college application process, so they are aware of what materials they will need to submit on your behalf.
How Financial Aid Factors into the College Application Process
Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
As you start to narrow down your target list and figure out what schools you are applying to, it is important to evaluate the cost of each school. You may have received some athletic scholarships to some schools and more merit-based to others. However, to ensure you are taking advantage of all avenues of financial aid, you and your family should be applying to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
FAFSA is the most common form of financial aid. This form allows you to apply for financial aid from the federal and state governments in addition to college-specific aid. Many families take themselves out of the running for financial aid before they have even applied.
The most common example of this is assuming your family makes too much money to receive aid. The reality is that there is no income cut-off to apply for FAFSA, and many schools will not consider you for academic scholarships without filling out your FAFSA. It is free to fill out, so it would be wise to at least check if you qualify for any aid.
Where Do I Fill Out FAFSA?
You can access the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. You can also access these videos that will assist you with creating an FSA ID or How to Fill Out the FAFSA Form.
When Should I Fill Out FAFSA?
Each college has different deadlines when financial aid forms need to be filed and received by the college. Check the FAFSA website to see when you should start the application process based on the state that the school you are applying to is located. If you are interested in receiving an estimate on what type of aid you may qualify for before submitting the form, most schools with have a financial aid calculator on their school website that you can access. You can also ask a college coach for support if they have shown a high level of interest in you as a prospective student-athlete.
Each family is different when determining the right time to file forms. One thing to remember is that choosing a time when you demonstrate the greatest need for that year is advantageous. There are a few scenarios that are exceptions to this:
- If the school awards first-come-first-serve aid, you should file your FAFSA as soon as the application comes out.
- If you reside in a state that awards state aid on a first-come-first-serve basis until the funds run out.
- Your first financial aid form is due before this point.
What Information Do You Need?
- Social security number (including your parents’ if you are a dependent student)
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Driver’s license number, if applicable
- Federal tax information or returns (including parents’ or spouse’s, if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income
- Bank account, investment, and real estate asset information
- An FSA ID to sign electronically.
Note: A new FAFSA form came out December 2023, which significantly reduced the amount of questions on the form.
Making Sure You Are NCAA Eligible
If you are planning on playing at an NCAA Division I or Division II college or university, it is important to make sure you have met all of the eligibility requirements before you start your application process. To do this, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, and it is reccomended to start that process at the end of your sophomore year.
As of January 2023, the NCAA Eligibility Center no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for student-athletes to meet initial eligibility requirements. Your eligibility is now determined by your core-course GPA and amateurism status.
Note: It was recently decided that starting with the 2026-2027 academic year, all student-athletes enrolling in an NCAA Division III school are required to have an NCAA ID. You can learn more about the NCAA Eligibility Center process with our article here.
If you have not received your eligibility number, you can register through the NCAA website here.
Being a recruited student-athlete does not guarantee that you will be admitted into a college or university. Every student-athlete must go through the admissions process and send their application materials on time. Do not let the admissions process overwhelm you! Take each application one at a time. You are almost at the finish line!