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How to Complete a College Application as a Recruited Athlete

By Benjamin Reinisch|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on September 27, 2021)

Athletes hoping to play in college not only have to get recruited and offered by college coaches, but have to get accepted into the school as well. This makes the academic and application process just as important as the athletic and recruiting process. This process is not only essential, but also more involved for athletes than for regular students.

Everyone has to fill out the same application to a school, and the application process from school to school remains relatively the same. All applicants must take standardized tests, complete FAFSA paperwork, and submit the application itself along with any supplemental essays. After you complete your senior year, you must also submit your official high school transcript.

There are, however, additional steps that athletes must follow when applying for schools they were recruited to. Whether it's regarding scholarship money, financial aid, or when to apply, there are items that prospective student-athletes and their parents should be aware of. An in-depth description of these requirements is provided below. We have also created a PDF checklist (at the bottom of the page) for you to print and use at your convenience.

Additional Materials for Athletes

Recruiting Information: Athletes need to submit any requested recruiting information to the school. The most important of which is the letter of intent (NIL or equivalent for other associations). If athletes don't sign and submit their intent letters by the deadline, their spots can be given to other recruits

Scholarship Contract: Athletes on scholarship must sign and submit their scholarship contract. The contract is renewed each year, and the signature shows your commitment to the team and the team's commitment to you. Once your scholarship contract is signed, the financial aid and cashier's office can apply your scholarship to your student account. Some schools require you to go into your account and accept the scholarship, so make sure to do this as well.

Additional Scholarships for Athletes: In addition to their athletic scholarship and FAFSA paperwork, athletes should also fill out applications for any scholarships offered to athletes at their school. These are separate from athletic scholarships and are usually offered by independent parties or organizations who want to support athletes. They are also often school or region-specific, making them less competitive than bigger scholarships.

Campus Housing and Early Arrival Request: It is important for athletes who are planning to live on campus to submit all documentation early because athletes are one of the first groups allowed to choose their roommate and housing situation (room, floor, dorm vs apartment). Additionally, athletes competing in fall sports must apply to move onto campus earlier than the regular move-in date so they are there and ready to practice.

Health Information: Finally, athletes have a handful of documentation to submit to the athletic trainer. This includes HIPAA paperwork, insurance, emergency contacts, and other health-related paperwork.

It is important to pay close attention to deadlines when filling out this paperwork, so athletes don't lose their spot, scholarship, financial aid, or housing opportunities.