Striking the balance from year one

By Ann Bezbatchenko

For collegiate athletes, playing a sport began as fun and turned into a passion. If you are one of the lucky few who can take their passion to the next level, it will be a challenge to strike a balance between athletics and academics, but a worthwhile one.

Most athletic departments have guidelines about how athletes must notify professors about athletic schedules and missed classes. It is best to give your professor your athletic schedule and the days you may miss at the beginning of the semester. Many professors are flexible, but do not take advantage of their understanding. Make sure you turn in assignments in on time. You may want to find a “buddy” in class so that you can get notes from classes you miss.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sets regulations aimed at keeping athletes eligible. However, in the end, it is the student's responsibility to remain in good standing on and off the field. The NCAA has a GPA minimum of 2.1 for eligibility, but some schools or coaches may set a higher GPA minimum. Make sure you are aware of your school or sport's policy.

Most athletes have a full schedule, so time management is important. Joe Vidmar, a 2004 graduate of the University of Richmond and scholar-athlete during his four years, says that although time is limited, it's important to find some downtime between practice and homework so that you refuel before beginning schoolwork. He suggests scheduling even just a few minutes to unwind so that you are ready to put all your attention toward schoolwork.

Overall, most student athletes find balancing athletics and academics to be a rewarding experience. Tim Bezbatchenko, a recent graduate of the University of Richmond and NCAA Academic All-American, says “what I learned on the field translated directly to the classroom. I was constantly making connections between the team work, motivation, and dedication I needed for soccer to my work and experiences in the classroom.”

After graduating from the University of Dayton in 2000, Ann Bezbatchenko worked as an editor for SRA/McGraw-Hill Companies. She returned to school to obtain a master's degree from The Catholic University of America, where she worked as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions for CUA. Ann currently works at Loyola University Chicago's Graduate School of Business as the Director of Admissions.

Academic Preparation

These articles offer advice on which high school courses to choose, how to make the most out of high school, and where to go for help when you need it. Paying attention to your academic preparation in high school makes it more likely that you will be accepted to the college you really want.

Plan Your High School Course Selections

Colleges care about which courses you're taking in high school. The courses you take in high school show colleges what kind of goals you set for yourself. Find out whether your high school course selections match what most colleges expect you to know.

Electives are courses students may select to meet total graduation requirements. And colleges care about which courses you're taking in high school.

The courses you take in high school show colleges what kind of goals you set for yourself. Are you signing up for advanced classes, honors sections, or accelerated sequences? Are you choosing electives that really stretch your mind and help you develop new abilities? Or are you doing just enough to get by?

Colleges will be more impressed by respectable grades in challenging courses than by outstanding grades in easy ones.

Do your high school course selections match what most colleges expect you to know? For example, many colleges require two to four years of foreign language study.

Successful completion of the courses in the chart below are commonly expected of prospective students. Of course, each college and university may have different high school course requirements. Be sure to check with the colleges you're interested in to see what they recommend or require.

High school courses recommended for college*
English: Four or more years (grammar, composition, literature, etc.)
Mathematics: Three or more years (Algebra I and higher—does not include general math, business math, or consumer math)
Natural Sciences: Three or more years (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.)
Social Sciences : Three or more years (history, economics, geography, civics, psychology, etc.)
Additional Courses: Some colleges and universities require other classes as prerequisites for admission, such as two or more years of the same foreign language or courses in the visual arts, music, theater, drama, dance, computer science, etc.
* Specific high school course requirements vary from institution to institution. Be sure to check with the schools you're interested in to see what they recommend or require.

Checklist for making the most of high school

How to get the most out of high school. This checklists pinpoints things you can do as a high school student to prepare for college and your future career.

•    Take classes recommended for college preparation. Talk to your counselor.
•    Use testing information. Examine your scores and take extra courses or get tutoring assistance for weaker academic areas.
•    Establish goals for each school year. Talk to your counselor about what you should be doing in light of your college and career plans.
•    Explore careers through research and experiences. Use a career counseling program and job shadow or do internships in careers you are interested in pursuing.
•    Surf the Internet for information on education and career planning.
•    Take a college entrance exam during your junior year.
•    Never stop learning. Education is a lifelong pursuit.

The GPA myth

A high GPA is important, but it's not the only thing college recruiters are looking for in prospective students.

"It doesn't matter which classes I take in high school, as long as my grade point average is high."
If you're playing the GPA game and taking a light schedule that isn't challenging, it will catch up with you at the college level very quickly. One of the things admissions officers pay attention to, besides GPA, is course selection throughout high school and especially senior year. They like to see students have momentum going into the freshman year. If you sit back your senior year, it's hard to recapture that momentum.

Course selection can also affect admissions test scores. If you just go for a good GPA, you'll be less prepared for college and will score lower on entrance exams.

Strengthen your academic skill

If you think your skills aren't quite up to speed for college, don't give up. This article gives tips to help you improve your academic skills for college.

ACT offers these tips:
•    Take a summer or night school class.
•    Use test score information to see where you need work. Score information from the ACT, for example, can tell you what subjects you need help with and what you can do to raise your skills to the next level. Remember, a low score doesn't necessarily mean you're bad in a subject. It just means you haven't learned the subject yet.
•    Work with a tutor to learn what you don't know yet.
•    Check out study aids—books, videotapes, audiotapes and computer programs—at your public library or a local bookstore.
•    Ask your counselor or a teacher about ways you can build your academic skills.

Senior year—no time to slump

Why you need to keep working hard during your senior year. Even after you've been accepted to college.

Once you have a college offer in hand, you may get the urge to coast through the rest of the school year. Maybe you've already decided to slack off. It's your senior year and you deserve it, right?

Before you give in to senior slump, you should know that the college may be watching you.
Colleges, especially selective universities, have been known to withdraw offers of admission to students who drop college prep classes or begin earning uncharacteristically low grades. If you haven't slumped too far, colleges might send you a warning letter and add certain stipulations to your admission, such as requiring a 2.0 grade point average during the first year of college.
Taking an extended breather during your senior year can make your freshman year in college difficult. So have fun your senior year, but don't give up on your college preparation.

Choosing a college

Choosing a college is one of the toughest choices you'll make in high school. Each of these articles offers some great tips for choosing a college.

A list of things to consider when evaluating and comparing colleges.

In choosing a college, the first things you'll probably consider will be the type of academic program and the availability of the major—or majors—you are most interested in.

Here are some other things to think about as you compare colleges. How you rank these other factors will depend largely on your personal preferences and needs.

Location
•    distance from home

Environment
•    type of school (2-year or 4-year)
•    school setting (urban, rural)
•    location & size of nearest city
•    co-ed, male, female
•    religious affiliation

Size
•    enrollment
•    physical size of campus

Admission requirements
•    deadline(s)
•    tests required
•    average test scores, GPA, rank
•    special requirements

Academics
•    majors offered
•    special requirements
•    accreditation—recognized by regional or national accrediting bodies as meeting its objectives
•    student-faculty ratio
•    typical class size

College expenses
•    tuition, room & board
•    estimated total budget
•    application fee, deposits    Financial aid
•    deadline(s)
•    required forms
•    % of student population receiving aid
•    scholarships
•    part-time employment opportunities

Housing
•    residence hall requirements
•    availability
•    types and sizes
•    food plans

Facilities
•    academic
•    recreational
•    other

Activities
•    clubs, organizations
•    sororities/fraternities
•    athletics, intramurals
•    other

Campus visits
•    when to visit
•    special opportunities

Think about your reasons for going to college

People go to college for different reasons. How do your reasons for wanting to attend college affect your college planning?

What do you want to be when you "grow up" and how will college help you get there?

Although college cannot be all things to all students, with proper planning it can meet your needs and expectations. High school is an excellent time to identify what you expect from college.
Use your interests, abilities, and preferences to help you choose a career and plan your education. As you decide which colleges and major(s) interest you, keep your long-term goals in mind. Decisions about college are part of the career planning process.

For example, if you like planes and want to design them, look for a strong aeronautical engineering program. Decide what you want from life and use college as a tool to help you get there.

List, compare, and visit colleges

It's time to narrow down your list of possible colleges. Collect information about colleges that might meet most of your needs.

Sources of information
•    College catalogs, information bulletins or videos
•    College representatives
•    Parents, students and alumni
•    School counselors and teachers
•    College websites and Internet searches
•    Directories and computerized information systems
•    Professionals in the field
•    College planning section of your ACT score report

Your high school counselor can lead you to other resources, maybe in a career/education center in your school or community.

Questions to ask on a campus visit

•    What activities and services are available to help students get settled (academically and socially) during their first year?
•    How big are the classes?
•    (Ask students) How easy is it to meet with faculty?
•    (Ask students) Are you able to register for the classes you want?
•    What is the total cost of attending the college?
•    What types of financial aid does the college offer and how do I apply?
•    Are all freshmen assigned to an academic advisor?
•    Where do most freshmen live?
•    Can I take a tour?
•    What activities are available for students?
•    Who teaches the courses for first-year students?
•    How successful are the college's graduates in finding jobs?
•    What services (such as transportation and shopping) are available locally?
•    What is there to do on weekends? Do most students stay or leave campus on weekends?

Make final decisions

It's time to decide which college you'll attend. Don't worry, it will be OK.

Waiting for notice of college acceptance can be agonizing. Admissions materials and financial aid applications list the date by which decisions will be made. Don't expect to be notified much sooner. Many schools mail notifications to applicants by April 1, and most require acceptance by May 1.

Once admissions notices are received, the decision-making begins. Make your decision carefully and thoughtfully, and accept an offer that feels right. If that dream college doesn't extend an offer, remind yourself that it isn't the end of the world. A college education, regardless of the school where you earn it, is a valuable investment in your future.

Be sure you keep the lines of communication open with all of the schools extending offers. Once you make a final decision, let all who have extended offers know of the decision.