–Ask The Scout - By Alan Parham - September 2007
9 September 2007
Question?
Can I expect to get a full athletic scholarship offer if I play college sports?
Answer:
Unless you play one of the revenue generating sports like football or basketball, or if you are an excellent “skill” position player, don’t expect to receive a full athletic scholarship.
Coaches will ask you to apply to the college. Once accepted, the admissions office will send your financial package to the coach.
This will include academic money earned from your unweighted, core course GPA, standardized test scores and class rank.
If these combined elements are very good to superb, you may earn additional merit scholarship awards.
If you are a member of a certain special group such as a particular religion, race or ethnic background, other monies may be available to you as well.
Then, the school typically adds some sort of student loan and work study money to further reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for the freshman year.
The total is your “package.”
Once the coach sees this, he or she will decide how much athletic money to add which will complete your package.
The best way to impact your college awards is to earn good grades and to test well.
There is no substitute for the free money academics produce, but that depends on the effort you put into your studies and the marks you bring home at the end of each school year.
Most packages are not final, though.
You may ask for more money to better fit your financial situation at home.
But, you can only go to that well so often before it runs dry.
Be careful and consult a knowledgeable resource.
By the way, prospects who are enrolled with NSR receive these additional consultations as part of our service to help families navigate the process more successfully.
Alan Parham
Director of Scouting
Office: (828) 891-0091
Cell: (828) 216-2267
Fax: (704) 943-0822
NSR Home Office: (800) 354-0072
Web site: www.nsr-inc.com/carolinas
Alan Parham is the director of scouting in North Carolina for National Scouting Report, America’s premier high school scouting and recruiting service. He serves as the company’s regional manager advising scouts in Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. His articles on high school and college recruiting have been featured in "Fastpitch Delivery," the monthly newspaper for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, HighSchoolSports.net, and other regional and national publications. In 2006, Alan was selected as NSR’s envoy to Australia to evaluate and train scouts in that country. Beginning in 2007, he began serving as the company’s lead trainer and conducts quarterly training sessions in NSR’s Birmingham, Alabama, home office. Since 2003, his organization has assisted over 250 high school student-athletes from North Carolina and South Carolina in receiving offers from colleges, a figure that represents over 85% of their clients. His column, “Ask the Scout,” is featured monthly in PREPalert.com. He is a sought after speaker on the subject of college recruiting by booster clubs, athletic departments, civic clubs and travel team organizations. Alan can be reached at (828) 891-0091, (828) 216-2267 or at nsrcarolinas@aol.com for free athlete evaluations and consultations.
Alan Parham
NC & SC Executive Director
NC/SC/TN/GA/VA Reg. Mgr.
Office: (828) 891-0091
Cell: (828) 216-2267
Fax: (704) 943-0822
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