The Student Athlete's Guide to College Success

by Algerian Hart Ph.D., F. Erik Brooks

Overview

An invaluable guide for potential collegiate student athletes, this guide presents strategies to assist student athletes with life skills both inside and outside of the classroom and athletic arenas.

Student athletes must overcome a gauntlet of challenges in order to be successful in college. This guide supports student athlete success by identifying various potential issues and providing specific guidance and advice based on the author's direct experience and insider knowledge. It presents potential collegiate athletes with a wide-ranging and inclusive view of the intercollegiate sport experience and a comprehensive explanation of the role of the student athlete.

This book is a comprehensive guide for student athletes and their families that will assist in deliberating scholarship offers from multiple institutions and setting a course for success in college. Readers will be equipped to determine which scholarship option—and in some cases, which sport or sports—is the optimal choice, be knowledgeable about their financial aid options and the rules of recruiting, and be prepared with a list of suggested questions that American student athletes should ask coaches and recruiting officials wishing to pursue their talents. This guide provides the essential strategies that will enable student athletes to gain life skills both inside and outside of the classroom and athletic arenas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440847035
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/21/2016
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Algerian Hart is sport management graduate coordinator in the Department of Kinesiology at Western Illinois University.

F. Erik Brooks, PhD, is professor and chair of the Department of African American Studies at Western Illinois University.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part I Student Athletes and Collegiate Athletics

Part II Getting Noticed as a High School Student Athlete 15

Step 1 Preparing for Collegiate Athletics 15

Step 2 Performing at an Optimal Level in the Classroom and in the Sports Arena 18

Step 3 Paying Attention to the Attention 36

Part III Recruiting and Selecting the Right College Sports Program 39

Step 4 Explaining the Recruiting Process 39

Step 5 Deliberating on an Athletic Scholarship Offer 57

Step 6 Making It Official: Signing Day and the Signing Day Press Conference 62

Part IV Receiving a Scholarship, Student Athletes, and the Rules 65

Step 7 Examining the Ins and Outs of a College Scholarship 65

Step 8 Navigating the NCAA Policies and Procedures 66

Step 9 Adjusting to College Life and Collegiate Athletic Competition 70

Part V Balancing Athletics and Academics in College 83

Step 10 Supporting Successful Academic Habits 83

Step 11 Making the Grades and Academic Success 90

Step 12 Graduating, Going Pro, or Finding Other Gainful Employment 106

Part VI Student Athletes' Experiences and after the Cheering Stops 113

Index 147