Paige Karl is a senior on the women's soccer team at Skidmore College. Paige decided to stay at Skidmore for fifth season of soccer and ninth semester at Skidmore College. She was set to graduate in the spring of 2023, however, due to the pandemic, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes who would have been competing in a college sport between 2020 and 2021. She will graduate after the fall 2023 semester. Paige was kind enough to share what she learned from the process of using her extra season of eligibility and advice she has for athletes in a similar boat to her.

Next season, you are taking your fifth season of eligibility; what were some of the main aspects that went into your decision to stay at Skidmore for another semester?

Yes, I am very excited to have the opportunity to do a fifth year. For sure a silver-lining of COVID–which impacted my college experience the most my sophomore year (fall 2020), was when our soccer season was canceled. The two reasons that hugely guided my decision to stay relate to timing and my educational goals. Almost 2 years of my college experience were under strict COVID regulations. Secondly, in my junior spring, I spurred a new passion relating to the intersectionality of business and the environment. I wanted to complete my minor in business to complement my major in environmental studies. 

What are some rules/policies about your fifth year that you have learned since deciding to do another season?

One thing that I have learned is that athletes who are involved in their final semester are allowed to participate in their sport even if they are not full-time students. 

Related: How Does the NCAA Determine Eligibility? 3 Factors To Consider

Was there anything holding you back from doing another season?

Financially, an extra season was something I had to consider. Being a candidate for financial aid the past eight semesters as a fulltime student, my ninth semester as a student paying per credit was something I put a lot of thought into. Paying per credit does not allow me to get aid, and this was a big choice for me to make. 

What would you say is your favorite thing about being on the soccer team at Skidmore?

I love my teammates and our coaching staff. The relationships I have formed with so many of my teammates hold a very special place in my heart. There are so many memories entangled with these incredible people each of our seasons over the past 4 years. 

Top Coaches: Dan Hunt & Lacey Largeteau. Rate Your Coaches.

What challenges have you come across when deciding to stay an extra semester?

As I mentioned previously, the financial cost of doing an extra semester was a challenge I faced. Another challenge for me was my placement on the team in regard to grades and socially. It was my senior year when I made the decision to do a 5th year, but it became really hard towards the end of the season and into the spring when I had the realization that the teammates I had come onto the team with would all be gone next year. I have never been on the team without them, and that was something that was challenging to wrap my head around. I also am the first person in our program to do a 5th year so there is not any alums or teammates that I can talk to about this choice. 

What advice would you give someone who is going back and forth on whether or not to do an extra year in college?

I would say do it if you can and if it makes sense for you. While I have not even experienced my 5th year, I have very high hopes that it will be the right decision for me. Yes, it is definitely an investment for my future and I am still swallowing the fact that I will be burdened with more student debt, however, we only get to experience college once. It is even more rare to experience college while playing the sport you love surrounded by the people you love. We have all the time in the world to be an adult, why not enjoy the time before the real world hits you?

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Image Credit: Skidmore Athletics

* Originally published on June 15, 2023, by Bella Nevin