A post-graduate (PG) year is when a high school athlete graduates from high school and opts to do another year at a prep school before going to college. This is similar to a gap year but the athlete is playing another full season for their sport and is enrolled in a school. Some athletes take high school classes at these prep schools so they can boost their GPA for college. Others can decide to take online college courses so that they are already working towards their college credit. Many prep schools focus on extensive player development because they want to improve a certain part of their game or fitness before they go to college.
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Why do Athletes Do a Post Graduate Year?
There are a number of reasons why athletes will choose to do a post-graduate year. One reason is that the athlete might be looking for more offers. Often times an athlete might not have any offers or is looking for more. They feel like another year to improve their game will bring them to the schools they are more interested in. Sometimes a school might be interested in an athlete but they don't have enough scholarships. They will tell a recruit that they are interested in offering them for the following year, so the athlete will do a PG year and then go to college the following year. Another reason an athlete might do a PG year is that an athlete might be missing a certain course or their GPA/SAT scores are not up to par. They will use the extra year to work on their grades and get their requirements up to where they want. Many prep schools offer all types of courses and opportunities for their students.
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What Are Some of the Top Prep Schools?
Many of the top prep schools in the country are in the NEPSAC (New England Preparatory Athletic Conference) league. These are some of the top prep schools in the country and include schools such as Vermont Academy, Cushing Academy, Brewster Academy, South Kent School, and Bridgton Academy. These schools produce many Division I athletes each year and many alumni have even gone on to play pro. Some other notable prep schools are actually military academies. Schools like Hargrave, Fork Union, and Massanutten are also some of the top prep teams in the country. Each of these schools offers something different but many of the athletes will have the same goal.
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* Originally published on June 9, 2023, by Jason Zielinski
