Financial Aid

Financial Aid for Athletes

If knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss, then misinformation which is treated as fact must undermine all opportunities.

It’s a shame that parents make decisions regarding their children’s academic and athletic future based on hearsay, misinformation and half truths. They derail their children’s athletic opportunities, limit their college options, and unnecessarily spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars more on a college education than is necessary.

Let’s take a look at financial aid: who gets it, and how to get more of it, especially if you are a student-athlete.

Financial aid comes in two basic flavors; need-based aid and merit-based aid. Need- based aid is related to family finances - yearly income, savings, investments, equity in the home, business interests, etc., -- but does not include retirement money. Merit-based aid is awarded to students based on academics, athletics, citizenship, leadership, subject major, geography, and a variety of other categories. The awards have different names but they are free money which is given to students – quite often student-athletes.

Need-Based Aid

Every college student should request need-based aid, file a FAFSA and apply for federal aid, even if they don’t qualify. Quite often, the college financial aid officer uses the FAFSA as the basis for determining the schools’ need-based financial aid packages.

Merit-Based Aid

Academic scholarships are the most visible of all merit-based awards and schools divvy up the money based on different criteria. Some schools set a benchmark for each award given i.e.; a 3.5 GPA is a President’s Scholarship and is worth $10,000, 3.0 is a Dean’s Scholarship and worth $7,500 and so on down the line. Some schools offer money to the top 10% of the incoming class. Some schools offer money to incoming freshman who were class valedictorians and salutatorians. Other schools do not offer academic scholarships because everyone in their school graduated in the top 5% of their high school class and there is no need to offer academic money.

Merit-Based Aid for Athletes

Everyone hears about the “Full Boat Athletic Scholarship”. The ‘Full Boat’ includes tuition, room, board, books, fees, and expenses. These scholarships are real but only the very best and highly visible athletes earn them. There are partial athletic scholarships available, too. In this case a ‘Full Boat’ may be divided between or among many athletes. There are also partially funded athletic scholarships where the ‘Full Boat’ may consist of tuition only. Athletic Scholarships are awarded by DI and DII schools only.

If student athletes are not being contacted by several dozen college coaches in their sophomore and junior year, either they are being overlooked by DI coaches or they are not a DI caliber athlete and should think about attending a DIII school. There is a tremendous amount of athletic and financial opportunity at DIII schools.

The following statement undermines any chance of playing sports in college and receiving financial aid. “My son/daughter can’t play DI sports and since there’s no athletic money available at DIII schools there’s no point in playing sports in college.” WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

First of all, colleges are looking for talented and exceptional high school students. If the athletics component is removed from the high school resume, you have lost your leverage and now your son or daughter is applying for school as one of several thousand incoming freshman rather than one of a handful of pre-selected, pre-qualified student-athletes. Where do you see a better opportunity; 1 of 6,000 or 1 of 6!! If you are the ‘in demand athlete’, you increase your leverage and negotiating power. This is how you may qualify for athletic related financial aid, but not an athletic scholarship.

Leadership Grants

All schools are developing tomorrow’s leaders; they develop them from today’s leaders. Athletes demonstrate leadership ability by acting as referees, umpires and assistant coaches for P&R activities such as soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, etc. It’s not mandatory to be a team captain to show leadership ability. Tomorrow’s leaders are also today’s mentors, peer advocates, tour guides, Sunday school teachers, etc. If you have demonstrated your leadership characteristics, there may be financial aid available.

Citizenship Grants

What have you done to make your community a better place? Besides sports, do you volunteer for school clubs, student government, band, SADD, Dare, etc? In the community where you live, do you volunteer your time at the soup kitchen, town library, senior citizen center, cancer fundraising activities, help to raise money for non-profit organizations, town beautification projects, etc? Many schools offer grants for involved citizens.

Subject Area Major

If a school is trying to grow a certain department or major they may offer a tuition reduction if you are enrolled in that major.

Geography

If the school is looking to attract students from a particular part of the country, they may offer money if you are from the right town, county or state. Conversely, an alumnus may have created a fund for residents of certain geographic locations.

Live Performances

If you can devote some time to band, theater or on-campus productions, there may be money available.

Alumni

Some schools have alumni funds available for students who have in demand athletic skills.

There is a lot of money available at a DIII level which is not “athletic scholarship’ money, but is driven by athletic ability. Anyone who takes the approach that there is no money available at DIII schools and chooses not to pursue athletics is short changing themselves. The family will probably pay more because they may be forced to borrow money from PLUS Loans and Stafford Loans rather getting scholarship or grant money from the school.

The goal of any student-athlete who would like to play sports in college is to reach out to as many coaches as possible. It’s a game of numbers, the more coaches who know of your ability, the more offers you are bound to get. The increased demand for your services increases your leverage and negotiating power. If you want to play sports in college go after it…and College Prospects of America can help.

Steve Karp is the Director of College Prospects of America - Connecticut and can be reached at College Prospects of America, PO Box 71, Clinton CT 06413, phone 860-664-0424, www.collegeprospectsofct.com, steve@collegeprospectsofct.com.




		Financial Aid Financial Aid for Athletes If knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss, then misinformation which is treated as fact must undermine all opportunities. It’s a shame that parents make decisions regarding their children’s academic and athletic future based on hearsay, misinformation and half truths. They derail their children’s athletic opportunities, limit their college options, and unnecessarily spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars more on a college education than is necessary. Let’s take a look at financial aid: who gets it, and how to get more of it, especially if you are a student-athlete. Financial aid comes in two basic flavors; need-based aid and merit-based aid. Need- based aid is related to family finances - yearly income, savings, investments, equity in the home, business interests, etc., -- but does not include retirement money. Merit-based aid is awarded to students based on academics, athletics, citizenship, leadership, subject major, geography, and a variety of other categories. The awards have different names but they are free money which is given to students – quite often student-athletes. Need-Based Aid Every college student should request need-based aid, file a FAFSA and apply for federal aid, even if they don’t qualify. Quite often, the college financial aid officer uses the FAFSA as the basis for determining the schools’ need-based financial aid packages. Merit-Based Aid Academic scholarships are the most visible of all merit-based awards and schools divvy up the money based on different criteria. Some schools set a benchmark for each award given i.e.; a 3.5 GPA is a President’s Scholarship and is worth $10,000, 3.0 is a Dean’s Scholarship and worth $7,500 and so on down the line. Some schools offer money to the top 10% of the incoming class. Some schools offer money to incoming freshman who were class valedictorians and salutatorians. Other schools do not offer academic scholarships because everyone in their school graduated in the top 5% of their high school class and there is no need to offer academic money. Merit-Based Aid for Athletes Everyone hears about the “Full Boat Athletic Scholarship”. The ‘Full Boat’ includes tuition, room, board, books, fees, and expenses. These scholarships are real but only the very best and highly visible athletes earn them. There are partial athletic scholarships available, too. In this case a ‘Full Boat’ may be divided between or among many athletes. There are also partially funded athletic scholarships where the ‘Full Boat’ may consist of tuition only. Athletic Scholarships are awarded by DI and DII schools only. If student athletes are not being contacted by several dozen college coaches in their sophomore and junior year, either they are being overlooked by DI coaches or they are not a DI caliber athlete and should think about attending a DIII school. There is a tremendous amount of athletic and financial opportunity at DIII schools. The following statement undermines any chance of playing sports in college and receiving financial aid. “My son/daughter can’t play DI sports and since there’s no athletic money available at DIII schools there’s no point in playing sports in college.” WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! First of all, colleges are looking for talented and exceptional high school students. If the athletics component is removed from the high school resume, you have lost your leverage and now your son or daughter is applying for school as one of several thousand incoming freshman rather than one of a handful of pre-selected, pre-qualified student-athletes. Where do you see a better opportunity; 1 of 6,000 or 1 of 6!! If you are the ‘in demand athlete’, you increase your leverage and negotiating power. This is how you may qualify for athletic related financial aid, but not an athletic scholarship. Leadership Grants All schools are developing tomorrow’s leaders; they develop them from today’s leaders. Athletes demonstrate leadership ability by acting as referees, umpires and assistant coaches for P&R activities such as soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, etc. It’s not mandatory to be a team captain to show leadership ability. Tomorrow’s leaders are also today’s mentors, peer advocates, tour guides, Sunday school teachers, etc. If you have demonstrated your leadership characteristics, there may be financial aid available. Citizenship Grants What have you done to make your community a better place? Besides sports, do you volunteer for school clubs, student government, band, SADD, Dare, etc? In the community where you live, do you volunteer your time at the soup kitchen, town library, senior citizen center, cancer fundraising activities, help to raise money for non-profit organizations, town beautification projects, etc? Many schools offer grants for involved citizens. Subject Area Major If a school is trying to grow a certain department or major they may offer a tuition reduction if you are enrolled in that major. Geography If the school is looking to attract students from a particular part of the country, they may offer money if you are from the right town, county or state. Conversely, an alumnus may have created a fund for residents of certain geographic locations. Live Performances If you can devote some time to band, theater or on-campus productions, there may be money available. Alumni Some schools have alumni funds available for students who have in demand athletic skills. There is a lot of money available at a DIII level which is not “athletic scholarship’ money, but is driven by athletic ability. Anyone who takes the approach that there is no money available at DIII schools and chooses not to pursue athletics is short changing themselves. The family will probably pay more because they may be forced to borrow money from PLUS Loans and Stafford Loans rather getting scholarship or grant money from the school. The goal of any student-athlete who would like to play sports in college is to reach out to as many coaches as possible. It’s a game of numbers, the more coaches who know of your ability, the more offers you are bound to get. The increased demand for your services increases your leverage and negotiating power. If you want to play sports in college go after it…and *College Prospects of America* can help. *Steve Karp* is the Director of *College Prospects of America* - Connecticut and can be reached at *College Prospects of America*, PO Box 71, Clinton CT 06413, phone 860-664-0424, www.collegeprospectsofct.com, steve@collegeprospectsofct.com.