Are you an aspiring athlete searching for a way to continue your athletic career while getting a college education? Then, an NCAA Division 3 scholarship may be the perfect solution. Getting an NCAA D3 scholarship is competitive, but it can be done with hard work and dedication. So let’s look at how you can make this dream come true.
Are you a high school student-athlete or parent of a potentially be recruited prospect looking for an opportunity to receive an NCAA Division 3 scholarship? Then, you’ve come to the right place! However, finding information on requirements, deadlines, and scholarships can take time and effort. With this review post, we’ll usher you through all the steps necessary so that you can make your dream of receiving an NCAA scholarship a reality. From understanding how to qualify, navigating eligibility rules, and finding out what scholarships are available at D3 institutions – it’s all here in our comprehensive guide. So don’t worry if you’re feeling overwhelmed; by following our roadmap below, we guarantee that you will be one step closer to achieving your goal of getting an NCAA Division 3 Scholarship!
Start Your Division 3 Scholarship Process Early
As with many things, the sooner you start, the better off you will be. When it comes to getting an NCAA D3 scholarship, that means starting as early as possible—ideally in your first year of high school, if not earlier. Start by researching schools and teams that could potentially offer you a scholarship. From there, reach out to the coach and let them know your interest in their group and program. You should also ensure they understand your grades and athletic achievements so far.
The Steps Of The Recruiting Process
- Prospective student-athletes
- Coaches begin initial evaluations
- College programs begin contacting potential recruits
- Evaluations begin to shrink recruiting class
- Official visits and offers begin
The collegiate recruiting process is a journey of discovery and assessment. Thousands of prospects get the opportunity to showcase their talents as coaches start with initial evaluations of physical attributes, graduation year, and position before making contact with those they deem potential recruits. The assessment continues while recruiters narrow down candidates until official visits are provided and offer extended – culminating in finding the right fit for each program’s future!
Division 3 Eligibility Requirements
Division 3 schools set their academic requirements. Thus, it is best for athletes interested in playing at the DIII level to contact coaches directly and look up each school to determine their requirements.
Get D3 Exposure With Coaches
Another critical factor when applying for an NCAA D3 scholarship is exposure. It’s essential to get yourself seen by as many coaches as possible so that they can see what kind of player you are. Participate in showcases and tournaments where scouts might be present or even reach out directly to coaches interested in recruiting you for their team. Ensure that any video footage or highlights you provide is professional-looking and shows off your skillset well.
Communicating with Coaches
Coaches are extremely busy juggling a rigorous recruiting and college team schedule. Ultimately, it is up to a recruit to take the initiative and stay in communication with coaches at programs they are interested in joining. As a result, athletes must remain proactive during the recruiting process and demonstrate professionalism and diligence in communicating with coaches.
Maintain High Academic Scores For Division 3
To become eligible for an NCAA Division 3 Scholarship, you must maintain good academic marks throughout high school; this includes maintaining a certain GPA and passing standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT with qualifying scores. Many universities also require specific courses completed (such as math or foreign language). Be sure to check each university’s requirements before applying so that you can meet them accordingly.
Landing an NCAA Division 3 scholarship is no easy task—it requires hard work and dedication both on the court and in the classroom—but it can be done with proper preparation and planning! Start early by researching D4 schools and D3 Programs that may offer you an academic scholarship, get yourself seen by attending showcases or reaching out directly to coaches, and stay on top of your academics throughout high school by maintaining good grades and test scores that meet eligibility standards set forth by universities. With these tips, you’ll be ready to apply for an NCAA Division 3 Academic Scholarship!
NCAA Academic Requirements
Fortunately, 75% of college athletes meet the minimum academic requirements outlined by the NCAA. Unfortunately, however, every year, many solid academic student-athletes are declared academically ineligible due to one or more of the following reasons:
- Core Course Requirement: Every high school has a specific list of approved NCAA Core courses. Student-athletes are required to pass 16 core courses in high school. There is a slight variation between the requirements for D1 and D2 schools; however, if athletes meet the D1 requirements, they will meet the D2 guidelines.
- GPA for Core Courses: The NCAA calculates an athlete’s GPA based on the average of their core courses mentioned above, not all high school courses. The core course GPA minimum is 2.3 on a 4.0 scale for D1 and 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for D2.
- ACT/SAT Scores: Generally, the minimum ACT and SAT scores are 75 (sum score) and 900, respectively. Both standardized tests can be retaken to achieve one’s best score.
- NCAA Sliding Scale: The NCAA usually uses a combination of an athlete’s GPA and standardized testing scores to determine their eligibility. Although, it is only possible to know what GPA or standardized testing scores are needed by knowing the other.
Unofficial and Official Visits
Visiting college campuses is a crucial part of the recruiting process. These visits give recruits a feel for the campus and ultimately help them see whether or not they would see themselves at a school. Athletes can go on both official and unofficial visits. Specifically, official visits are financed by the school and are only typically given to top recruits. Alternatively, unofficial visits are funded by a recruit and their family. Unofficial visits can only include a school’s athletic department on August 1 of an athlete’s senior year. Furthermore, unofficial visits can happen at the very early stages of the recruiting process; however, official visits do not happen until a recruit’s senior year.
NCAA Official Visit Regulations
Each college sporting division has its rules; however, D1 has the strictest regulations. Please see below all the rules an athlete needs to know:
- The NCAA only allows recruits to visit 5 D1 colleges, and they are limited to one visit per school. Official visits to D2 and D3 colleges for recruits are also limited to one per school; however, there are no restrictions on the number of schools a recruit can visit.
- A college may cover the cost of transportation for a recruit to visit the campus. The transport cost is also covered if a parent or guardian travels in the exact motor vehicle. Although, if they travel by flight or separate bus or train tickets, the parent(s) travel expense will not be covered.
- Only one official visit per school at all college sports levels
- An official visit may be up to 48 hours long or one weekend.
- For D1 men’s basketball, official visits can start on January 1 of their junior year of high school.
- For women’s basketball, an official visit can start as of April of their junior year of high school, which begins the Thursday following the Women’s Final Four tournament.
- Official visits to all D1 sports, excluding those above, can begin as of August 1 before a student-athletes’s junior year of high school.
Note: Official visits are not available during dead periods.
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