For many high school student-athletes, playing sports at the college level is a lifelong goal.   However, some may not know what steps they can take to maximize their chances of beating the competition and advancing to the next level. That is why it is important for you to consider the following tips while still in high school to realize your dreams and play the college sport of your choice:

1)    Routine, routine, routine! – being a student-athlete forces you to have to manage and effectively balance a busy academic and athletic schedule.  Keeping a daily routine helps you to stay focused and on target to meet your obligations both on and off the field.  This is extremely important for college coaches, as they want to see that prospective athletes are able to handle a large load and demanding schedule, which is typical for the college athlete.

2)    Get enough sleep – 8 hours of sleep each night is not impossible, despite what some people think.  For student-athletes, if you can stick to a daily routine, it will be easier for you to manage getting enough sleep so that you are well-rested and able to optimally perform both in the classroom and on the field.

For student-athletes, the process of choosing and applying to colleges requires a bit more effort.  Meaning, there are more hoops to jump through, so to speak, than is required for an average student applying to college.  Some of these are as follows:

•    Know which division you realistically can play – if you are looking to play a Division I sport, make sure you can compete at this level.  Speak with your coach to find out whether this may be an option for you. If not, there are plenty of other colleges, both at Division II and III levels, where you can achieve your college athletic goals, that may be a better fit.

•    Attend a summer sports camp at a college of interest – many colleges allow camps to rent out their athletic facilities during the summer.  This may be an ideal way for you to get on a coach’s radar, and get a better feel for the campus and its facilities.