Start a Senior Checklist
Organization is key to effective planning and decision-making. As your senior edges closer to graduation, a checklist of tasks and duties can help plan future steps. Student-athletes hoping to compete at the college level have additional steps to consider.
Why It Matters
- There’s a lot at stake.
Without a doubt, senior year of high school has its pressures, with college and career decisions, academics and social activities. Life after high school is on the horizon, though, and having a solid plan may help ease some of your senior’s stress. - Deadlines must be met.
If your senior is heading to college, the school will require multiple forms and documents. Keeping track of requests and submissions may have already started with admission applications, but now is the time to expand the checklist to include transcripts, health forms and many others that will be needed in the upcoming months. - Future collegiate athletes have additional considerations.
Colleges and universities that are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have rigid athlete and institution standards. Student-athletes should know what the standards are for the association a college is affiliated with.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Finalize the four-year plan.
Your student should look ahead to next term’s course schedule and make sure graduation requirements will be met by the end of the year. Schedule a meeting with the school counselor to verify that the top college’s admissions standards will be reached by graduation and request that transcripts be sent, if necessary. - Research deadlines and preferences.
If your student will be living in a college residence hall next year, submitting applications and fees before the deadline will improve the odds of having a top option honored. If not able to physically tour residence halls, your student may find virtual tours available on the college’s website in order to designate first, second and third choices. If your student will be living off-campus, it’s important to research city neighborhoods, paying close attention to any available reviews and virtual tours. Exploring the city’s residential areas on your own can also be very helpful with decision-making. - Know what it means to be a student-athlete.
Both the NCAA and NAIA require that student-athletes register with their eligibility center. Just like high school, the student must meet certain academic standards, as well as be certified as an amateur athlete. Additionally, some NCAA schools request that a National Letter of Intent be signed by highly recruited athletes, signifying an end to the recruiting process and the athlete’s commitment to a single institution. - Find out each college’s athletic association affiliation.
If your student is considering becoming a student-athlete, research every college of interest to determine the association membership. The NCAA has a comprehensive Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (PDF) to thoroughly read before registering. The NAIA’s eligibility center posts information on its website about the opportunities for athletes to showcase their skills in front of NAIA coaches.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Keep finances at the forefront.
Your student should keep the budget in mind when making decisions about college housing. Living on campus means the college charges students for their housing and meal plan, usually through the school’s billing statement. How do these costs compare to rent and food costs when living off-campus? Other factors are involved with renting away from campus, such as transportation to and from campus and elsewhere, and household costs like utility payments in addition to rent. The on-campus room rate includes those costs and others — notably maintenance and janitorial services. - Know how being a student-athlete relates to financial aid eligibility.
Within the NCAA, there are three divisions with each one specifying the amount and type of financial assistance that can be provided to the student-athlete. Division I student-athletes may receive multiyear, cost of attendance athletics scholarships. Division II student-athletes may receive partial athletics scholarships, while Division III student-athletes cannot receive any athletics scholarships whatsoever. NAIA colleges and universities determine the amount of financial aid their student-athletes receive, which is limited to the actual costs the individual student-athlete has. - Student-athletes should commit to being a college student first.
Your student’s primary focus should still be toward making decisions about the future career path, the college major to choose and, most importantly, the college that will offer a supportive academic environment to pursue each.
What You Can Do
- Have honest conversations.
You know your student the best. Discuss the pros and cons of each type of living scenario. Ask your student if household management in a rental situation might inhibit academic performance and what types of social interactions to expect in each type of housing. Review the budget with your student and make helpful suggestions. Offer support and an honest perspective if your student expresses doubt or confusion. With two or four years of college ahead, there is time to explore both types of living arrangements. - Cautiously encourage your student.
If your student excels in a certain sport and wants to play at a collegiate level, help with the research about the NCAA, NAIA and the schools your student is exploring. It’s worth it to educate yourself in order to offer knowledgeable guidance. - Be honest about the facts.
There are about a half a million collegiate athletes, and only a few within each sport end up competing at the professional or Olympic level. There’s a greater likelihood of a college athlete earning a degree. Offer the facts to your student while also fostering growth in a particular sport. Focus on earning a college degree while also playing a sport about which your student is passionate. Depending on your student’s commitment to the sport, club-level athletics may be another option. - Join a parent club.
Many colleges offer opportunities for parents to stay connected to their student’s campus through newsletters, social media or online forums, or other parents of a college’s current and prospective students and athletes may have started their own. Joining these groups can help you gather information and build a network.
Next Steps
Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!
Additional references, handouts and talking points are available in the right sidebar to use at your leisure. They may prove beneficial to reference now or after receiving future emails – we’ll leave it completely up to you. Use our emails like a recipe for a successful outcome — assemble the recommended ingredients and then follow accompanying directions to add flavor and depth.