The Importance of Academics
Great grades are key.
College coaches are looking for great students! A good academic record is more important than a great sports resume. Coaches are very particular looking for students that can qualify for academic aid and have the classroom work ethic to endure the rigors of being a collegiate student athlete. So, study and stay focused on your GPA, standardized tests, and class rank.
Below is a timeline of important academic steps to complete each year in your college search:
Freshmen and Sophomores
Start planning now
Work hard and get the best grades possible
Take classes that match your highs school’s list of NCAA courses
Juniors
Register to take the ACT and SAT
Double check to make sure the courses you have taken match your school’s list of NCAA courses
Ask your high school counselor to send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completing your junior year
Seniors
Take the SAT and/or ACT again, if necessary. The Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the ACT or SAT to determine your best cumulative score
Continue to take college-prep courses
Continue to work hard to get the best grades possible and graduate on time!
For a more in-depth, detailed look at the academic steps needed during each year of high school, purchase my 10-part video series on the College Recruiting process.
Betty Baird Kregor is an LPGA Master Teaching Professional and owner of StraightShot Inc., specializing in the DISC personality system to mentor and advise athletes of all ages and abilities.
In 2014, Kregor retired from over 27 years of teaching golf to consult athletes in the mental aspects of sport an serve as a "performance coach" for goals, scheduling, practice programs, college advising and more.
Her LPGA education in DISC profiling allows an athlete to maximize their performance with "self awareness" of their strengths and weaknesses. It is also an important tool in finding the right college fit. College athletic consulting is a service that benefits 9-12th graders in learning how to market their talents, schedule college visits and value the importance of academics.