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Counseling » College-Bound Student-Athletes

College-Bound Student-Athletes

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College athletics encompasses a variety of different opportunities for students to compete in a sport at the college level, and there are several items that must be completed throughout your high school years, from eligibility standards, transcript, test scores, and more. The most prominent associations are:

  1. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is divided into different divisions - Division I, Division II, and Division III. NCAA Guide to the college-Bound Student-Athlete
  2. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) also offers athletic opportunities at 250 institutions. NAIA Guide to the College-Bound Student-Athlete
Each association and division maintains different initial-eligibility requirements and standards so it is important to be familiar with the one where you will be competing. If you are unsure where you will attend yet, it would be best to satisfy the most rigorous set of requirements (NCAA-Division I) as this will keep your options open for the most opportunities. 
 
Please consult with your Mater Dei school counselor to be preliminarily evaluated on your progress for NCAA initial-eligibility academic requirements (Core Courses, GPA, etc.).
RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL TIMELINE
  • If you are being actively recruited by an NCAA Division I or II school and have a free Profile Page account, transition it to a paid Academic & Amateurism Certification account
  • Complete the Transcript Release Form if you would like MD to share your unofficial transcript with interested coaches/schools
    • Send the completed form to your assigned counselor
  • Begin talking with your coaches about the process for getting recruited for your sport
  • Review your NCAA eligibility and MD graduation progress with your school counselor and develop a plan if improvement is needed
  • NOTE: The NCAA is not requiring the SAT/ACT for their initial eligibility certification. However, the school you plan to attend may still require it. 
  • Ensure your sports participation information is correct in your NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Center account
  • At the end of the school year, send an official 6th-semester transcript from each high school attended to your NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Center account. Mater Dei students should send in their transcript on their own through parchment. Choose to send your transcript, NOT enrollment verification. 
    • If you are a transfer student or you took any classes outside of Mater Dei, you MUST send an official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center from each of those schools in order for those classes to be considered in the NCAA's academic evaluation.
  • Complete all Tasks assigned via the NCAA Eligibility Center, including the NEW NCAA Sports Wagering Education Module
  • Even if you committed to a school and/or signed a National Letter of Intent, you MUST still apply and get accepted to the school 
  • Request your final NCAA amateurism certification beginning October 1 (Winter/Spring enrollees) or April 1 (Fall enrollees)
  • Finish Christian Service Hours (40 direct hours, 80 total hours)
  • After you graduate, send your final high school official transcript to your NCAA/NAIA accounts. Be sure to confirm that official transcripts have been sent from all high schools attended.
    • Reminder: also send a final official high school transcript from Parchment to the college you will be attending
 
*View the NCAA's comprehensive High School Timeline and Registration Checklist
  • The event covered important information about NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Center portals, initial-eligibility requirements, high school timeline, and more topics that all students interested in competing in college should know. 
  • This year’s presentation can be viewed here: NCAA College Night PowerPoint 
  • For additional information and resources, please email our College-Bound Student-Athlete Programming Coordinator, Mr. Riche. He and your School Counselor are here to support you through this process!