The realities of athletic scholarships

As you progress through high school and begin thinking about your future in college, you may be considering the possibility of earning an athletic scholarship in your chosen sport. While this is certainly a viable option for offsetting the rising costs of tuition, it's also important that you consider the realities of college sports and how they can benefit your academic goals. Here are some things to keep in mind as you apply to schools.

Playing the odds
According to U.S. News & World Report, the number of available athletic scholarships in Division I and II sports are vastly smaller than the number of high school students applying for them. Millions of students compete against each other every year for only about 138,000 spots in college sports.

Partial ride
Even those student athletes who are exceptionally talented might be surprised to find that few scholarships cover the complete cost of college tuition, reports The New York Times. While sports like football and basketball have been known to award full scholarships to players, most financial aid opportunities are only for a few thousand dollars at most.

Don't wait to be discovered
While in the movies, a player might have a shining moment that catches the eyes of college scouts from around the nation, U.S. News & World Report notes that students usually have to bend over backward to get the attention of coaches. In fact, many players have to submit multiple emails to coaches detailing their athletic stats before they're even on a school's radar.

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