An informed recruit is a great recruit! That said, there's a lot of miscommunication surrounding the recruiting process, especially when it comes to scholarships. Families and their children often need clarification about what type of money they will receive from playing sports at the next level. Knowing what kind of scholarship the college offers and how your college finances will work year to year is essential, and be aware of digital media–just because you're seeing high-level recruits getting full-scholarship offer after full-scholarship offer, doesn't mean that's representative of how all scholarships work. Here are three myths and facts to help keep you informed.
Related: Recruiting FAQ's: What if I Don't Get an Athletic Scholarship Offer?
Myth: Athletic scholarships are an entire 4-year agreement between the athlete and the university
Fact: Athletic scholarships are usually one-year contracts that need to be renewed by the athletic department
Athletic scholarships are usually guaranteed over 4-years. No matter what type of scholarship you are on, whether partial or full, it's likely that the scholarship must be renewed yearly. It is not like a professional contract where once it is signed, the money is either fully or partially guaranteed, your scholarship is guaranteed for one year, and that is it. Additionally, scholarships may not be renewed for many reasons, including personal and academic misconduct infractions, an injury, or in some cases, poor performance within the program.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Myth: Getting a scholarship means the school pays for all your expenses
Fact: Scholarships vary in amount, and the majority of scholarships are not full-rides
One of, if not the most common misconceptions about scholarships is that when an athlete receives a scholarship, the university will be paying for all of their college and athletic expenses. This, however, is not the case–only around 1% of athletic scholarships are full rife, and only six sports, both women's and men's, guarantee them. The vast majority of scholarships are partial, in which the athletic department delineates the funds to the athletes in the respective sport. It is crucial to verify what type of scholarship you will receive as a collegiate athlete so your family is not surprised when the college bill comes.
Related: Scholarships 101: 2 Types of Athletic Scholarships
Myth: A verbal offer equates to a full scholarship
Fact: Verbal requests are non-binding and do not guarantee a scholarship to the athlete
Many high-level athletes will receive verbal offers early in their recruiting process as underclassmen in high school and some rare cases, middle school. These verbal offers given by coaches are neither binding nor guarantee athletic scholarship money. You could get hurt, drastically fall off on field performance, or perform poorly in the classroom and the offer is out the door. The request will be official when a college coach sends you a National Letter of Intent to sign on Signing Day. It is essential to discuss your athletic financial package beforehand so you know what type of scholarship you are receiving.
Be aware of how scholarships work when starting your recruiting process. It is essential to be thorough in your research and understand what type of scholarships you can be offered. Coaches will be impressed to encounter a high school athlete who is well-versed in the recruiting process and is asking all the right questions while being recruited–and it never hurts to be informed.
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* Originally published on December 5, 2022, by William Calhoun
