5 Facts About the NCAA for Aspiring Student Athletes
Aside from the prestigious learning experience, what makes colleges more exciting are the different perks and services that they offer. A huge part of student satisfaction in a school is having a robust line-up of extra-curricular activities to enjoy—and the most important among those is sports.
Collegiate athletics has been a very big deal for different universities across the globe. It has become a platform for aspiring athletes to further their careers, and having a culture of passionate student-athletes has also been an important part of student life in many universities.
As the passion for collegiate athletics has increased over the years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has risen as the primary arbiter of college athletics for schools all across the country. It’s helped universities and their athletic department, and the consistency has allowed college sports to spread and further cater to more students. For soon-to-be college scholars, here are some facts about the NCAA that can help you begin your interest in college sports.
Athletic Scholarships
On top of being one of the prime governing bodies for student college sports, the NCAA also helps universities manage the scholarships and opportunities that are offered to students. NCAA-affiliated universities and colleges are split into three divisions, with each league providing lucrative offers for students who want to both study and compete athletically.
Opportunities for International Athletes
These opportunities are not only limited to student-athletes in the United States either. International students can also participate in NCAA sporting events. To do so, international students must register with the NCAA, provide official government documents, their GPA, Test Scores, and transcripts, and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Depending on the school, students may also need to complete the TOEFL as well. Meeting the specific requirements opens the doors for thousands of students worldwide to compete in NCAA-sanctioned sports across the world.
How did the NCAA Begin?
The NCAA was founded in March 1906. Prior to that, football was considered a rather dangerous sport. Injuries and wounded athletes were much more commonplace. According to the New England Historical Society, the Chicago Tribune recorded the deaths of 19 athletes during the 1905 football season—though the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune recorded even more.
Following this, President Theodore Roosevelt, a known fan of football, held two white house conferences in response to these deaths. Following this, then chancellor of New York University Henry MacCracken and constituents from over a dozen other universities held a meeting initiating changes to the sport. This resulted in the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) in 1906, later renamed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
How to Study while Sporting
The NCAA doesn’t just cater to students’ athletic capabilities. Those who attend college do so to study, and students don’t have to forgo their academics to participate in and compete in sporting events. The NCAA also works to help students maintain their academic performance in conjunction with their athletic aspirations.
For example, Division II schools, in partnership with the NCAA, make sure that there is sufficient time for students to excel in their studies, as well as compete and train for sports. Resources and mentorships are available to students who need help balancing their time. The NCAA maintains strict standards for its students, so student-athletes should use all the advantages at their disposal to keep their grades and physical performance.
Admissions Process
As mentioned earlier, the NCAA maintains standards for its athletes. To be qualified, students must have at least a 400 on their SATs or a 37 on their ACT results. Students are also required to have finished high school and 16 core courses with at least a 2.0 GPA for each subject. There is also an expectation that a certain percentage of coursework should be completed to secure and maintain eligibility (e.g., 60% of coursework should be finished by junior year to continue participating in college sports).
As the foremost governing body for college athletics, the NCAA means to foster excellence within its athletes, which means their physical capabilities, strength of character, and academic pursuits. So, students interested in joining a division, whether it be I, II, or Division III athletics, should all work to be the best of themselves and not just maintain the minimum standards but exceed them in all aspects of their college experience.
Finding Your Footing in College Admissions
The NCAA is a potent platform that many aspiring student-athletes can use to advance in their academic and athletic careers. If you are or have a soon-to-be college athlete—or if you are just interested in trying out sports—InGenius Prep’s programs are here to help.
With Candidacy Building, we pair high school students with Graduate Coaches and Former Admissions Officers from top United States universities to explore your interests, find your activities, and become a star student in your field. And for those who want an edge in their college applications, our Application Counseling program will have you crafting a perfect application for your top-choice college.
