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what does it take to be a college-level athlete?
I'm a junior in high school and play varsity basketball for Burton High School. College is just around the corner, and I need to make sure I have enough knowledge by now so I can be mentally and physically prepared to be a college athlete.
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Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
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Paul’s Answer
Having worked with many college athletes, during my career, I believe I can also add some additional recommendations on this particular subject:
I have observed with my former student-athletes, that to become a college athlete, you must be able to balance high-level athletic performance, with very strict college academic and amateurism eligibility requirements.
The process usually begins as early as your freshman or sophomore year of high school. So, it appears that you are now able to start many of the required elements mentioned in this narrative.
Colleges in major athletic associations, like the NCAA and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) have specific academic benchmarks you must meet to compete in your first year of eligibility. This includes meeting certain standards like:
Core Courses: For NCAA Division I and II, you must complete 16 core courses (English, math, science, and social science).
GPA Requirements: Division I: Minimum 2.3 core-course GPA, and Division II a minimum 2.2 core-course GPA. The NAIA generally, requires a minimum 2.0 unweighted GPA.
The 10/7 Rule: For Division I, you must complete 10 of your 16 core courses before your seventh semester (senior year); 7 of those must be in English, math, or science.
Standardized Tests: For the 2026-2027 academic year, the NCAA and NAIA no longer require the SAT or ACT for initial eligibility, though there are still individual colleges that may still require them for general admission. These tests are more than likely used by the more competitive public or private universities, where there are a high number of applications, and these scores might be utilized to determine who will get admitted into the college.
You must also be certified by the appropriate eligibility center to be cleared for scholarships and competition. This includes:
The NCAA Eligibility Center: You can register for a free "Profile Page" in 9th or 10th grade. Upgrade to a paid "Certification Account" (approx. $110 for domestic students) by your junior year if you are pursuing DI or DII schools.
The NAIA Eligibility Center: Register at the NAIA website, if you are targeting NAIA colleges and programs.
Amateurism Certification: You must request final amateurism certification (typically starting April 1 of your senior year) to prove you have not accepted professional pay for your sport.
Coaches rarely will go out and "find" athletes, so you must be proactive and actively market yourself. This includes:
Building a Profile: Create an athletic resume and a highlight video. I will go more into this in another section further down the page.
Contact Coaches: Send personalized introductory letters to coaches at your target schools. Include your NCAA ID, transcript, and video links.
Attend Events: Participate in college sports camps, where coaches from your target schools will be present.
Fill Out Questionnaires: You can go online and visit the athletic department websites of colleges, if you are interested in attending them, and complete their recruiting questionnaires and get registered into their database.
I actively advocate for athletes to take the initiative in contacting coaches rather than waiting to be discovered. This is probably because the athletes I assisted had a great amount of success with this technique.
Create an Athletic Resume: Similar to a professional resume, this should detail your athletic skills, positions, awards, academic honors, and career accomplishments.
Use Physical Mail: Send resumes and cover letters via postal mail rather than email. I have observed that college coaches receive thousands of emails, so a physical letter stands out and is more likely to land directly on a coach's desk.
Broaden Your Search: Send inquires to all collegiate divisions (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior Colleges), because colleges look at athletes from all of these classifications.
Once you are successful at attaining a position, on a college team, then you must also emphasize maintaining your spot on the team, which is as much about academics as it is about physical performance. So definitely keep in mind the following elements:
Maintain Eligibility: Many athletes become ineligible because they fail to track their progress or grades. Meeting institutional academic requirements is non-negotiable for continued participation.
Balance and Time Management: Success requires balancing sport commitments with excellent academic performance through effective time management.
Utilize Campus Resources: Modern athletic departments offer specific resources like academic advisors, tutors, and assistance with scheduling courses that do not conflict with practice or travel. I strongly advise athletes to utilize these "specialized" resources to maintain their academic standing.
Cultivate Transferable Skills: I encourage athletes to develop leadership and teamwork skills, which are essential for communicating effectively with both coaches, advisors and academic staff.
I hope that these recommendations have been helpful. Best of luck with your future athletic and academic goals.
I have observed with my former student-athletes, that to become a college athlete, you must be able to balance high-level athletic performance, with very strict college academic and amateurism eligibility requirements.
The process usually begins as early as your freshman or sophomore year of high school. So, it appears that you are now able to start many of the required elements mentioned in this narrative.
Colleges in major athletic associations, like the NCAA and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) have specific academic benchmarks you must meet to compete in your first year of eligibility. This includes meeting certain standards like:
Core Courses: For NCAA Division I and II, you must complete 16 core courses (English, math, science, and social science).
GPA Requirements: Division I: Minimum 2.3 core-course GPA, and Division II a minimum 2.2 core-course GPA. The NAIA generally, requires a minimum 2.0 unweighted GPA.
The 10/7 Rule: For Division I, you must complete 10 of your 16 core courses before your seventh semester (senior year); 7 of those must be in English, math, or science.
Standardized Tests: For the 2026-2027 academic year, the NCAA and NAIA no longer require the SAT or ACT for initial eligibility, though there are still individual colleges that may still require them for general admission. These tests are more than likely used by the more competitive public or private universities, where there are a high number of applications, and these scores might be utilized to determine who will get admitted into the college.
You must also be certified by the appropriate eligibility center to be cleared for scholarships and competition. This includes:
The NCAA Eligibility Center: You can register for a free "Profile Page" in 9th or 10th grade. Upgrade to a paid "Certification Account" (approx. $110 for domestic students) by your junior year if you are pursuing DI or DII schools.
The NAIA Eligibility Center: Register at the NAIA website, if you are targeting NAIA colleges and programs.
Amateurism Certification: You must request final amateurism certification (typically starting April 1 of your senior year) to prove you have not accepted professional pay for your sport.
Coaches rarely will go out and "find" athletes, so you must be proactive and actively market yourself. This includes:
Building a Profile: Create an athletic resume and a highlight video. I will go more into this in another section further down the page.
Contact Coaches: Send personalized introductory letters to coaches at your target schools. Include your NCAA ID, transcript, and video links.
Attend Events: Participate in college sports camps, where coaches from your target schools will be present.
Fill Out Questionnaires: You can go online and visit the athletic department websites of colleges, if you are interested in attending them, and complete their recruiting questionnaires and get registered into their database.
I actively advocate for athletes to take the initiative in contacting coaches rather than waiting to be discovered. This is probably because the athletes I assisted had a great amount of success with this technique.
Create an Athletic Resume: Similar to a professional resume, this should detail your athletic skills, positions, awards, academic honors, and career accomplishments.
Use Physical Mail: Send resumes and cover letters via postal mail rather than email. I have observed that college coaches receive thousands of emails, so a physical letter stands out and is more likely to land directly on a coach's desk.
Broaden Your Search: Send inquires to all collegiate divisions (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior Colleges), because colleges look at athletes from all of these classifications.
Once you are successful at attaining a position, on a college team, then you must also emphasize maintaining your spot on the team, which is as much about academics as it is about physical performance. So definitely keep in mind the following elements:
Maintain Eligibility: Many athletes become ineligible because they fail to track their progress or grades. Meeting institutional academic requirements is non-negotiable for continued participation.
Balance and Time Management: Success requires balancing sport commitments with excellent academic performance through effective time management.
Utilize Campus Resources: Modern athletic departments offer specific resources like academic advisors, tutors, and assistance with scheduling courses that do not conflict with practice or travel. I strongly advise athletes to utilize these "specialized" resources to maintain their academic standing.
Cultivate Transferable Skills: I encourage athletes to develop leadership and teamwork skills, which are essential for communicating effectively with both coaches, advisors and academic staff.
I hope that these recommendations have been helpful. Best of luck with your future athletic and academic goals.
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Focus on your health, diet, and practice more than anyone else. Having a rock solid routine and strong focus on preventing injury and continuous improvement because there will be competitors who are doing the same thing. Work hard, study hard and rest with the same amount of intensity. That is all you can ask of yourself.
Updated
Dexter’s Answer
Make staying in shape your usual routine. Stand out by being different. Don't hesitate to do what benefits you. Keep your focus on your studies and practice every detail of the game, even if it seems unimportant. Give your best effort in everything you do and accept where you currently stand in your progress. Remember, failing at a high level is much better than failing at an average level.