How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

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How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics as a “hook” depends on a number of factors. One factor, of course, is your own level of competence in your sport of choice. There are a lot of good athletes, so this can be a very competitive area. Another factor is the importance of your sport at the institutions to which you want to apply and the extent to which those schools are looking for someone involved in your sport. (This can vary from year to year within any given institution.)

– As an exceptional athlete, you could be interesting to a school as a potential member of one of their varsity teams. The competition and levels of expectation for places on the varsity teams will vary among institutions. If varsity participation is your goal, you should also make contact with staff of the relevant athletic departments of the schools in which you are interested. Depending on the schools and the NCAA division of your sport at those institutions, you might also be eligible for athletic scholarships. – Schools are typically looking for well-rounded students who will not only be academically successful, but who will also become involved in the extracurricular programs of their institutions in various areas, including club and intramural sports (non-varsity), so even if you’re not considering varsity sport involvement, highlighting your athletic background will undoubtedly add to your application. It will give the institution a better picture of you as a total person and will be one more piece of the puzzle which could make you a “person of interest” to them.
Sarah ContomichalosManagerEducational Advisory Services, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions? are sports important for college?

If you are a top athlete, athletics can be a valuable hook for college admissions. If you want to be a recruited athlete, you need to familiarize yourself with the process as early as 10th grade as coaches can begin to contact athletes after June 15th of 10th grade. That being said, it is important to keep your grades up as academics still play a big role in the process.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

very important in many ways

athletics department receives the most funding from the college in student activities or services. the fix costs related to supporting the department is huge in many colleges. with all the seats must fill, students should approach colleges as early as possible if qualified for athletic terms. no matter of what division you may participant, you can help yourself during the admissions process especially you have the coaches in addition to your counselor to speak very highly of you to the admissions director.

Tam Warner MintonConsultantCollege Adventures

Athletics as a Hook

It depends. Obviously if you are good enough for Division I athletics and they are courting you, a scholarship is probably headed your way. However, in some circumstances, athletics can matter. I had a student who was a good football player, too small for Division 1, but great for Division 2 or 3. Two very selective liberal arts colleges approached him (they saw him play at an event) and he got into both of them. Without football, he would not have been accepted. If you want to play athletics, make sure you meet the coach regardless of the division. It can help.

Bill PrudenHead of Upper School, College CounselorRavenscroft School

The Athletic Hook: Another Variable Piece

The value of athletics as a hook varies based on the school and the level of athletic prowess. If you are blue chip recruit, the coach really wants you, and you are NCAA eligible, that may be the end of the story, even though one can never forget that the final decisions are made by the admissions office. However, if you are simply someone who has been playing at the high school level, but will not continue, your athletic record is less a hook than a piece of your puzzle. Athletics are only a true hook, if you are good enough to be able to make a contribution to the college’s program for as in all other areas the admissions offices are looking to create a community and want to know what you will contribute.

Brittany MaschalFounder/DirectorB. Maschal Educational Consulting

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Only important if you are going to be recruited or have achievements on the national, or even better, the international level.

Benjamin CaldarelliPartnerPrinceton College Consulting, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

It would be almost impossible to overstate the benefit of being a recruited athlete.

Megan DorseySAT Prep & College AdvisorCollege Prep LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

The importance of athletics as a hook depends on your interests and each school’s needs. Do you want to pursue intercollegiate athletics on a Division I or II level? Continue competitive sports at a Division III school or participate in your sport but on a less demanding club level? Athletics is a more powerful hook if you intend to play on the school’s team (D I, II, or III), but you will need to match your talents with each school’s needs. You may be the best short stop in your state, but if your top-choice university already has more short stops than it needs, your hook won’t matter. Athletics can be the reason you are admitted, but you still need grades, classes, and scores and at least one school interested in your for your athletic ability.

Janelle BravermanEducational ConsultantIndependent University Advisors, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

The short answer is that unless you are being recruited onto an athletic team, participating in sports is just as important as any other activity that may have surfaced as your primary extracurricular involvement. Admissions officers know that being on a sports team requires discipline, commitment, teamwork and if you one of the good ones, talent. Unfortunately because playing sports is so ubiquitous it’s sometimes hard to describe that experience in a creative way, and is a tough ‘hook.’ However, if you treat your involvement with athletics as an opportunity to highlight leadership, or take your sport into the community, it may very well be a hook. For instance, if you’re a committed soccer player, but not the team all-star, what about volunteering to set up a camp for younger players or helping plan a tournament? Now it’s not about you as an athlete, but you as a leader.

Chuck SlatePresidentCollege Advisors,LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

I think Athletics can be one of the GREAT college hooks. Afterall it’s NOT a coincidence that somehow, a college gets the correct number of young men and women on each of its many athletic teams each and every year.

Look at little Davidson College for example. Roughly 1600 students; yet, they boast 19 Men’s and Women’s Div I sports and this does not include Club or Intramural sports!! Davidson is an elite college and highly regarded by most consultants. It ranks as #11 this year on the U.S. News Rankings.(Nat’l Liberal Arts) My point is think how important athletics are. My guestimate is that over 1/2 of the student body are either Div I athletes or participates in some type of sports. If you want a highly selective school, gpa and test scores aren’t always enough. You need a resume. And high level athletics can be one of the strongest resume entries you can boast
Jessica BrondoFounder and CEOThe Edge in College Prep

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

It can be very important. You can be recruited to a school to play for them if you are good enough, which is one way to get into college, but otherwise, playing on a sport shows that you have a certain mental and physical discipline. Playing a team sport already shows great teamworking skills, which colleges like to see. Sports are by no means necessary, however. If you are able to demonstrate your excellent qualities through any of your activities that’s great. Colleges want to see that you get more out of your activities than simple enjoyment. If being in orchestra makes you a team player, let them know! If painting helps you express your emotions, tell them! The most important thing is that colleges see that you have good non-academic qualities. Athletics most easily demonstrates things like leadership, discipline and teamwork, but so do other things too.

Keith Wren

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics with a good academic background is a huge plus for admissions.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Again – it all depends on variables too numerous to mention here. If the athlete is a superstar as well as brilliant, they’re usually a shoe in. But typically very important! It makes the difference all the time.

Tira HarpazFounderCollegeBound Advice

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

If you are an athlete and the coach has told you that you are one of his or her top recruits, that will have a very strong and favorable impact on your chances for admission. In fact, any recruited athlete has an advantage over applicants without such a hook. However, if you are a high school varsity athlete who is not recruited, athletics will not be a hook for you (although it may well be looked upon as a strong extracurricular activity).

Emily GoldmanFounder and CounselorGrey Guidance

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Whether you are looking to fence at Cornell, play basketball at Gonzaga, or row for San Diego State, it is important to fully understand the college admissions process for student athletes. How is it different from the traditional process? How can you best prepare early in order to open up as many options as possible when it comes time for applying to colleges and exploring your athletic options? The list below is by no means exhaustive, as there are many intricacies associated with each sport and each individual school, but it can be used as a place to start.

– Develop an athletic resume, summarizing your experiences and academic background – Develop a recruiting film that includes both highlights as well as a full game – Continue to take academically rigorous coursework (including AP and Honors classes, if possible) – Develop a balanced list of schools that you are interested in playing for, with a balance of Division I and Division III schools – Fill out the recruiting forms on each college’s website (once you have received your test scores) – If you are interested in playing a Division I sport, fill out the NCAA eligibility form – Contact coaches and assistant coaches to express your interest in a school. Make sure that your email contact is personalized to each school and written in a professional manner. – Attend athletic camps over your summers. These are typically about 4 days long at the end of June or during July, and are a great place to showcase your skills and introduce yourself to coaches. When looking at your different options, be sure to note the schools that will be attending for recruitment. You can also ask coaches which camps they will be attending over the summer. – Remain in contact with the schools that you are most interested in – Visit the schools that you are interested in playing for, if possible – Make your final decision. Be sure that you are making the decision that is best for you, not choosing the college that you think you should attend, but rather the college that you are most interested in attending.
Janelle BravermanEducational ConsultantIndependent University Advisors, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

The short answer is that unless you are being recruited onto an athletic team, participating in sports is just as important as any other activity that may have surfaced as your primary extracurricular involvement. Admissions officers know that being on a sports team requires discipline, commitment, teamwork and if you’re one of the good ones, talent. Unfortunately because playing sports is so ubiquitous it’s sometimes hard to describe that experience in a creative way, and is a tough ‘hook.’ However, if you treat your involvement with athletics as an opportunity to highlight leadership, or take your sport into the community, it may very well be a hook. For instance, if you’re a committed soccer player, but not the team all-star, what about volunteering to set up a camp for younger players or helping plan a tournament? Now it’s not about you as an athlete, but you as a leader.

Andrew BelascoCEOCollege Transitions LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

It is common knowledge that athletic talent can offer significant advantages (and scholarship money) to an applicant at a Division I school. However, it is important to realize that student athletes can also reap benefits from their athletic prowess at Division II and Division III institutions. For example, a Division-I-caliber swimmer with good (but not great) academic credentials and aspirations to attend a top liberal arts college may be able to use her talents to earn admission at a place like Amherst, Williams or Pomona. Talented athletes may also earn significant scholarship money (which is occasionally disguised as a need-based or academic scholarship at some D-III colleges). Ultimately, you don’t have to be the next Michael Jordan to gain advantage, especially if you wish to use your athletic talents as a means to greater and more academically-oriented ends.

Janet Elfers

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Well, I dislke the word “hook” because it sounds as though you’re “gaming” the system. You have to enter the college planning process understanding that the goal is a good match, not just getting accepted into the college you think you want to attend. Even thinking about “using athletics to get in” implies you aren’t that dedicated to your sport. If you aren’t dedicated, but you give the impression you are, you’re basically lying to the admission office. And besides, why would you want to be stuck with the pressures of college athletics if you aren’t fully dedicated? You’re better off being honest with yourself and with your college, and let the process proceed naturally.

Bill PrudenHead of Upper School, College CounselorRavenscroft School

Athletics-They Can Make All the Difference

Athletics can be the ultimate hook, virtually guaranteeing admission if the athlete satisfies the NCAA’s initial eligibility requirements and the coach definitively wants the athlete. Yes, the ultimate decision is made by the admissions office, but most experienced coaches at Division I schools know how to get preliminary readings from their admissions offices prior to investing the time and energy needed to land a particular recruit. Quite simply, it is all a part of the process of creating a community and matching the needs of the university. At schools where the athletic stakes are not as high, athletes are far more typical of the student body at large, but ultimately as long as a school fields a team they will make sure they have students who will not only fill out the roster but make them competitive.

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Athletics Can Be a Great Hook

Keep in mind that the notion of “hook” is borrowed from journalism where writers strive to hook the reader in with an attention getter. In that sense, athletics is a great attention getter. However, the first step in any college admission process is to determine that a student is capable of success. Highly selective colleges deny many students that demonstrate the potential for success, athletes included.

kathy hicks-freemanGuidance CounselorGreensboro High School

Athletics and College Admissions

Athletics is a vital part of a collegiate program. Many 18 and 19 year olds, are attracted to universities for nonacademic reasons; sports being one. Young adults need to feel a sense of connection. Many times, sports is a way to develop this relationship; which in turn, provides students with a sense of belonging.

Ryan JohnSchool CounselorBethlehem High School

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

I think part of the answer to this rests with how interested the coach is in you. Has the coach shown a sustained interest in having you on the team (i.e. frequent communication, invites to campus and games etc)?. Also, how close the relationship is between the coaches and the admissions staff will certainly play a role in how important or ‘potent’ of a hook the athletic component will be. At some colleges/universities the relationship is a respected one and one that can possess influence and persuasion. At others schools the relationship can be toxic and not yield any influence. All of that said, I would caution ANY student-athlete when hearing a coach tell them that ‘they will put in a good word for them’ with the admissions staff. This can be a marketing ploy by the coach to demonstrate ‘pull’ within the ranks of admissions. The student and their families will often not know the extent of the relationship between these offices which often times is much less influential than a coach may lead on, or may even be non-existent all together.

Trevor CreedenDirector of College and Career CounselingDelaware County Christian School

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

It all depends on how good you are and how much a coach wants you to play for them. You need to first get on a coach’s radar by completing the “prospective student athlete questionare’s” that are on each college’s athletic website for the specific sport. If a coach really wants you to play for them and especially if you will be offered a scholarship, your application will most likely be “flagged” as an athlete and the admissions requirements do come down a bit. How much depends on the college but I have seen them come down a lot for Division I colleges and a good bit for Division II and Division III.

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CollegeCounselor McSellerson

Very!

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Benjamin CaldarelliPartnerPrinceton College Consulting, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics can be a tremendous hook if a student has exceptional ability in a sport or a particular position in a sport where a particular college happens to have a need.

Kirk McNabbOwnerHeadstart College Consulting

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics should be in no way a hook for college admissions. The main focus for the college should be how it compares academically against other similiar institutions. Even though potential student athletes can help a schools awareness on their ability to play at a higher level athletically it should still be every student athletes #1 goal to obtain a college degree. A quality athletic program with excellent facilities will still help significantly with the overall decision making but it must always fall second to what the school offers academically.

Suzanne ShafferOwnerParents Countdown to College Coach

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

The sad and often unpopular fact is that very few students actually receive athletic scholarships. If you are looking for athletics to provide scholarships, your efforts are better served on academics. However, participating in sports (one sport consistently) can communicate that you are committed and able to be a part of something that is larger than you are.

Scott Herrmann-KeelingCollege Counselor

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics can be a very important hook.

Colleges are communities. They’re bringing more people into them every year. Anytime someone with specific knowledge about a particular piece of that community (like, say, a coach) approaches the admissions office to say, “This is an applicant who can make a difference here” it carries weight. A school does no favors to anyone if it admits a student who clearly does not have what it takes to succeed academically. It hurts the student, it hurts the team, it hurts the coach. But if a student is capable of making it in the classroom, having that athletic talent can be a huge difference-maker in the admissions process.
Carita Del ValleFounderAcademic Decisions

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Understanding the role that athletics plays at each university campus is complicated as the student may never know the “behind the scenes” strategies at play. When working with my clients, I always ask the student if they are interested in playing their sport while away at college as it may add another element to their application. It could be that they are the “missing link” from the freshman application pool the coach was looking for and their application is reviewed again in light of this need. Students need to remember as well that coaches too work for the university and often go to their admissions colleagues for help in filling their team.

Alan Duesterhaus

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics play a significant role at most colleges and universities. If you are looking at NCAA Division I and II for example, there can be significant scholarships available. In this case the coach will have serious leverage in the admission process.

For NCAA Division III colleges and other institutions which don’t offer athletic scholarships there won’t be any money involved. However, if the coach sees you as bringing something of value to the team they can certainly influence the admission process. For all of these institutions the better you are as a student the more leverage the coach will have to leverage your admission. The way this can play out is when a student expresses interest in a particular sport, speaks with the coach, and the coach sees value in the student’s athletic abilities. If the student is in the average or above range academically as compared to other applicants the coach’s desire to have you be admitted will be given serious weight. If your academic profile is poor the coach’s desire will not be considered as heavily. So keep cracking the books and working out!
Renee Boone

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

In some instances, your excellence in sports might help you get into a college to which you might not otherwise have access. A word of caution, however: if you decide not to continue with your sport (change of interest, injury, or other reason) will you still be at the right college?

Claire Law

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Academically strong students who also are competitive athletes are very desirable to colleges. A strong level of athleticism in football for example can be a hook to get students through the admission process at selective universities, especially if the coach really needs a tight end or kicker for their football team.

Patty Finer

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

For the athlete, this is important. Contacting schools ahead of the Admissions process is important as coaches play a part in the process as does the NACC clearinghouse

This is where a college consultant can help a student navigate the process to achieve their goals.
Ryan AldrichDirector of College CounselingThe White Mountain School

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Extremely important. Often times, athletics can be the tipping point in a student’s admission decision. In fact, in some conferences the extra weight in admission is actually called, ‘tips’. These ‘tips’ are allocated to coaches to use each year on their top recruits. Depending upon the need of a sport and a school’s commitment to a sport, top athletes can stand to gain a big advantage in gaining admission.

Kathleen HarringtonOwnerNew Jersey College Consulting

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics can certainly strengthen your college application in the admissions process however, keep in mind that the term “student-athlete” is highly regarded on the collegiate level. Understanding the academic requirements to play D1 or D2 is essential for students to understand as soon as they enter high school. You may be the top running back in the country however, if you fail to meet the academic standards for a D1 school, you may not have the opportunity to play for their program. Be well versed in all rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA.

Randi HeathmanIndependent Educational ConsultantThe Equestrian College Advisor LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

The majority of college-bound athletes are truly passionate about their sport – they’ve put the time in during their high school careers and they are definite about wanting to move that experience to the college level. Luckily for them, that’s EXACTLY the type of enthusiasm, dedication, leadership, and outside of the classroom information that admission officers are hoping to learn from their applications!

Bottom line: Sports are said to be character-building and colleges and universities don’t want to admit only students who study and get good grades; instead, they want students who have skills that have been acquired outside of the classroom. The lessons learned on the playing field are invaluable and students who can demonstrate in their application how they have been shaped by those experiences are going to be more admissable than their less active counterparts.
Mr C CoakleyPresidentAcademic Coaching Services

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

I refuse to subscribe to the term “hook” because it often implies a lack of one’s sincerity in the process. If a student is an accomplished athlete and wishes to continue his or her athletic career during college, then he or she should make this know to a potential college. If performance and skill are sufficient, a student should consider athletics to be an appropriate and useful addition to one’s resume. College athletics are much too demanding for students/parents to consider it simply as a “hook” to gain admissions to a particular college. College coaches need committed performers and will usually spend scholarship monies only on potential athletes who have a proven commitment to their sport (i.e participation in off-season club tournaments, travel, and/or training). Many colleges need great athletes and will do their best to attract students to participate. While the high profile sports of football and basketball (hockey in the north/New England states) garner most of the attention, I see many high school students enjoy successful college sports careers with some of the lesser known, revenue sports, like crew or squash, which may have been previously unavailable during high school. Great athletes often make great students, so athletic pursuits should be continued in college if one has the desire and time.

Nina BerlerFounderunCommon Apps

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

There is no one answer to this question, as different colleges handle admissions differently. There are often spaces set aside for athletes who will commit to playing at the intercollegiate level. Students must meet academic criteria as established by the NCAA: http://www.ncaastudent.org/NCAA_Guide.pdf. Some student athletes find themselves courted for several months by colleges but later dropped because of the degree of competition of academic thresholds set by the university. The lesson here is not to be wed to any one school in advance of the admissions decision but rather to keep your options open. Even for students who are not recruited, participation in athletics is often viewed favorably by the admissions office. After all, it shows a high level of talent, leadership, commitment and time management.

Ellen Fitzkee

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics at perspective colleges depending on the level of play and how successful major sports like football and basketball are at the school can be a major hook for college admissions and the number of applications submitted in any given year. Consider a school like Davidson that went far into the Final Four in men’s college basketball years ago or recently, Butler who almost won the NCAA Dividion I Men’s Basketball Championship last year and the number of applications that exceeded previous years becuase the genreal public heard and learned more about these smaller schools because of their media exposure. Looking at college admissions from a different perspective, sports are a way to draw students to their school and a way for college representatives to begin conversations with students when they attend college fairs. From another perspective, a student-athlete that can compete in sports at a Division I and/or II level, get preferential treatment in the college admissions process depending on how much the college coach wants a prospect. In Division III schools, where academics are placed above sports, student-athletes need to meet the same criteria as the “regular” applicant. However, college coaches at this level may get word of admission decisions before others so they can continue to recruit if they receive a denial since they do not have “athletic scholarship” money to offer prospects.

Darrell EdmondsDIrectorOakcrest Teen Center

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics can be important as a hook for college admissions. If you are an elite athlete, it could possibly mean scholarship money at Div I and Div II schools. The challenge is being honest with yourself about your level of talent. A lot of students that believe they have scholarship talent are mistaken.

Even if your aren’t an elite athlete, participation in high school athletics shows how well rounded you are. It shows your committment to academics by being able to balance sports and studies.
Steven CrispOwner Crisp College Advising

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics and admission don’t go well together from my experience. Coaches don’t understand the admission process and want athletes based on their athletic skills rather than their academic performance. At the same time most admission professionals don’t understand sports. Whether or not athletics can help get you in will depend on the relationship between the admission office and the coach. If it is good and they are working together, then it can be helpful. If not, it won’t matter.

Chuck SlatePresidentCollege Advisors,LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

I think Athletics can be one of the GREAT college hooks. Afterall it’s NOT a coincidence that somehow, a college gets the correct number of young men and women on each of its many athletic teams each and every year.

Look at little Davidson College for example. Roughly 1600 students; yet, they boast 19 Men’s and Women’s Div I sports and this does not include Club or Intramural sports!! Davidson is an elite college and highly regarded by most consultants. It ranks as #11 this year on the U.S. News Rankings.(Nat’l Liberal Arts) My point is think how important athletics are. My guestimate is that over 1/2 of the student body are either Div I athletes or participates in some type of sports. If you want a highly selective school, gpa and test scores aren’t always enough. You need a resume. And high level athletics can be one of the strongest resume entries you can boast.
Geoff BroomeAssistant Director of AdmissionsWidener University

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

I guess it depends on how good you are. Which colleges you are looking at and which coaches are looking at you. Admissions and athletic offices are in communication as to which students are being recruited. So being recruited is the hook in admissions, bot just playing a sport.

Joseph FreemanDean and College CounselorRandolph School

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

Athletics can be a powerful hook in college admissions, though how powerful depends on the sport, the school, and the applicant’s talent level. Obviously, a football player who wants to play in the SEC will have no trouble gaining admission to an SEC school as long as he or she is recruited, but, in this case, the athlete will be aware of his skill level long before the admissions process begins. In highly selective admissions, the athletics hook depends on how highly the college coach wishes to yield the recruit and what sort of policies the admissions office has towards recruited athletes. In the Ivy League, one’s academic profile matters significantly, for all recruited athletes are placed on an index. Those athletes who are below school averages “cost” a coach more than those whose academic qualifications fit with the school’s profile. Specific schools also have widely varying policies depending on the prestige of the sport at the school. For instance, a world-class squash player will do quite well in Trinity’s admissions pool, whereas a state champion cross country runner will not get the same degree of influence.

Pamela Hampton-GarlandOwnerScholar Bound

Weight of athletics on college admissions

Colleges are money making engines who truly love to recruit great athletes and have been known to bait the best of the best with all types of tantalizing goods and promises, but remember that is the athletic department.

Admissions is different, yes they want the best and brightest and will strive to capture the attention of those academically qualified candidates but their overall mission is to graduate students who become quality citizens in this world by making a sustainable contribution to society. Thus, although athletics looks great as an extra-curricular activity you must be academically qualified to squeak past admissions; and that vetting will take place before the coaches make any offers.
Sarah ContomichalosManagerEducational Advisory Services, LLC

How important can athletics be as a hook for college admissions?

If the student is a top athlete in a sport which is important to a particular college and thus is the coach’s top recruit it can be a very important hook. However, not only does it have to be the right sport but also the right position, ex. goalie for the soccer team or line backer for the football team. The relationship with the coach is key.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

it is another card for you to play

it is very important for seniors to seek contact and visit as early as possible to secure seats for being part of the team. when you have someone from the athletic department to recommend you to the admisisons office, you application will be serioulsy considered ahead of the rest applicants.

Judy ZoddaFounder and PresidentZodda College Services

The student – athlete- hook!

Student- athletes, if you are among the best, definitely have an advantage in college admissions. If you have a coach that is supporting your application and you are within the academic parameters of the college where you are considering playing, you have a good chance of getting admitted. But prior to getting to this last step of applying and getting admitted, there is a ton of work that you must do to get on the coaches radar and stay there, particularly in Division III. You have to be wiling to do the upfront work, and know there are still no guarantees as a prospective student – athlete that you will be admitted. What you are looking for is the right academic/athletic match!

Tom ChandlerAthletic Recruiting Adviserwww.IvyRecruiting.com

The athletic hook

There is no better hook for being admitted to highly selective schools than to be a recruited athlete. College trustees at both private and public colleges and universities value the brand name recognition that successful athletic teams generate. That in turn leads more students to apply, thereby lowering the number they can accept which makes them more selective, allowing them to attract better students and faculty, and generate greater contributions from proud alumni. Even Division III colleges value successful athletic performance as they want students who excel in whatever their interests are.

As a result, Admissions officers, who do not have the ability or time to determine which athletes are most likely to be contributors to their teams, delegate that responsibility to their coaches. Admissions has standards they apply to who will be admitted but for many schools in many sports, it is only the minimum standard applied by the NCAA, basically a sliding scale of GPA in 16 core courses and the SAT, ranging between a 2.0 and 1010 SAT for critical reading and math. But as the colleges become more selective and admit fewer of those that apply, there are more demands placed on the coaches to meet higher academic standards. But even in those cases, in order for highly selective school coaches to have enough talent to be able to compete effectively at their division, the standards must be lowered. In general, an athlete can be recruited at a level where the 25th percentile of the school’s students fall in terms of SAT, for example. They are qualified to do the work but can’t all be expected to perform at the level of their brightest students since they put so much time into trying to perfect their sport that they can’t be held to the same standard as other applicants, especially if the school hopes to compete nationally. Private colleges value diversity and definitely support the applications of alumni children but not nearly as highly as they do recruited athletes. As one example, last year Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school, accepted only 9.7% of all those that applied. But included in that amount were some of the 222 athletes they invited on official visits last fall. Of those 222, 106 ended up applying. Of those 106 that applied, all 106 were admitted So even at the most prestigious and selective colleges, being a recruited athlete is the best hook.
adam baerWriter and Editor for Top National Magazines, Websites, and Newspapers

Athletics can be an important hook for college admissions, but…

They are not all you need to focus on. Develop skills in other extra-curriculars and interests and talents in the arts and sciences. If you are more of a full package than a one-trick pony, you will likely seem a lot more attractive to the college of your choice.

Megan DorseySAT Prep & College AdvisorCollege Prep LLC

Athletics Can Be The Reason You Are Admitted

The importance of athletics as a hook depends on your interests and each school’s needs. You need to determine whether sports will be part of your collegiate experience and on what level. Do you want to pursue intercollegiate athletics on a Division I or II level? Continue competitive sports at a Division III school? Or participate in your sport but on a less demanding club or intermural level? Athletics is a more powerful hook if you intend to play on the school’s team (D I, II, or III), but you will need to match your talents with each school’s needs. You may be the best short stop in your state, but if your top-choice university already has more short stops than it needs, your hook won’t matter. Athletics can be the reason you are admitted, but you still need grades, classes, and scores and at least one school interested in your for your athletic ability.