Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thank YOU for making RateTheCoach.com a success in 09!
And after a tremendous year the Coach Ratings Directory has grown incredibility. We currently have over 20,000 schools listed, and gathered over 300 Coach Ratings from middle school to the college level.
In addition to those immediately involved in the creation of the site, we would like to also extend our thanks to our supporters, Facebook friends, fans, and the new little community of followers that have made 09 a success.
Thank you again! We’ll see you in 2010!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Wrestling
Wrestling
For millions of athletes that wrestle in
If you are a high school wrestler, you may be able to use your talents to pay for your college. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and they may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI wrestling program 9.9 scholarships.
-DII schools are given 9 scholarships to work with.
-There are 85 DI and 39 DII programs that offer money to wrestlers.
-That's a total of 1,193.4 wrestling scholarships available in the NCAA.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Water Polo
Water Polo:
For millions of athletes that play water polo in
If you are a high school Water polo player, you may be able to use your talents to receive a scholarship. Unfortunately, this sport is not available at every college or university. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and they may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI water polo program 4.5 scholarships for men and 8 for women.
-DII share the same amount of scholarships as DI programs, 4.5 for men and 8 for women.
Scholarships by Sport: Volleyball
Volleyball:
For millions of athletes that play volleyball in
If you are a high school volleyball player, you may be able to use your talents to pay for college. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players or they grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI volleyball program 4.5 scholarships for Men and 12 for women.
-Each DII program is allotted 4.5 scholarships for men and 8 for women.
-There are 311 DI Women's volleyball programs compared to 22 Division I Men's programs.
-There are 269 DII Women's volleyball programs versus 15 DII Men’s teams.
Scholarships by Sport: Track and Field
Track and Field:
For millions of athletes that participate in track and field in
If you are a high school track and field participant, you may be able to use your talents to receive a scholarship.
Talented athletes receive sports scholarships from all types of colleges and universities, from elite programs to smaller private institutions. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and can grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI college track program 12.69 scholarships for men and 18 for women.
-DII men and women’s programs both receive 12.6 scholarships.
-There are 271 DI and 148 DII schools that offer track and field scholarships for men. That is a grand total of 5,303.7 scholarships in the NCAA.
-A total of 8,510 scholarships are available for women in NCAA competition.
-There are 252 DI and 101 DII programs that offer Indoor track and field scholarships for men and 290 division 1 and 108 DII programs for women.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Tenis
Tennis:
For millions of athletes that play tennis in
attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI men's tennis program 4.5 scholarships.
-In DII, 4.5 scholarships can be utilized.
-Each DI women's program is allotted 8 scholarships.
-DII women’s programs are provided with 6 scholarships.
-There are 274 DI and 164 DII colleges that offer tennis scholarships for men.
-For women there are 316 DI and 211 DII programs.
-A total of 1,971 men's tennis scholarships and 3,794 scholarships for women in the NCAA.
Scholarships by Sport: Swimming and Diving
Swimming and Diving
For millions of athletes that swim and dive in
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI swimming program 9.9 scholarships for men and 14 for women.
-In DII athletics, 8.1 scholarships are available for both men and women’s programs.
-There are 142 DI and 50 DII colleges that offer swimming scholarships to Men.
-There are 185 DI and 64 DII colleges that offer scholarships to women.
-That's a total of 1,810.8 swimming and diving scholarships for men in and 3,108.4 for women in the NCAA.
Scholarships by Sport: Softball
Softball:
For the millions of athletes that play softball in
If you are a high school softball player, you may be able to use your talents to receive a scholarship. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI softball program 12 scholarships and 7.2 for DII programs.
-There are 262 DI and 253 DII colleges that offer softball scholarships.
-That's a total of 4,965.6 softball grants available in the NCAA.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
College Gameplan: Graduation, Definitely Look Into Doing It
Chris Rotolo
Despite what most student-athletes may tell you, not all of them go to college with graduation as their top priority. For the 7 footer that dominates the paint and knows a large sum of money is in his future, graduation can wait. However, as the official NCAA commercial clearly states, “There are about 380,000 student-athletes, and just about every one of them will be going pro in something other than sports.” Thus, if you do not start at center for the Tar Heels of North Carolina, and the Georgia Bulldogs have not penciled you in at running back, you really need to put your focus on graduation.
Realistically speaking, sometimes the rigors of training, practicing, and developing your skills will cut into your school work. For the student-athlete who does not seek help, this situation could potentially snowball into a problem and your coaches know this. That is why they will offer their players help through academic programs. In big time D1 schools these programs may consist of personal tutors and academic advisors that will be on your case, making sure your work gets done. At smaller schools, help may consist of tutors and advisors but could be something as simple as a team study hall. To be a success on the field and in the classroom you really need to take advantage of team academic programs, no matter what those programs may be.
The RateTheCoach Team has developed a small list of things to keep in mind that, if done, will keep you on the fast track to graduation.
Academics Come First:
The hardest thing for a student-athlete to comprehend is that undoubtedly and without question your academics must come first. Will your coach be upset if you miss a practice because you have to do work? For a little while. But better a practice than a game, or worse, the season, because of academic ineligibility.
Note: During the season, look at your class syllabi, and complete work ahead of time. This will ensure that you will not miss any athletic events, you will not have any missing class work, and your coach will not get mad at you.
Get To Every Class:
You have to be a mail carrier, meaning, rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night will keep you from class. It’s imperative to your success as a student-athlete to make it to every class you possibly can. I say this because one of the perks/downfalls of being a student-athlete is that you will miss class due to games. Valuable information will be forever lost while you are on the playing field. Therefore, you can not let it be lost because you could not wake up on time. The postal service has national holidays, the student-athlete has games, hence, be a mail carrier.
Meet With Professors Regularly:
You need to have a good relationship with your professors for three reasons. The first is extra help. Missing class during the season will put you behind. If you are on good terms with a professor they are more willing to be lenient with due dates and will provide you with extra help if you seek it (please do seek it). Second, professors do not like when students miss their classes. If you have a good relationship with your professors they can be more understanding to your situation.
Note: You get your athletic season schedule early. Make copies for all of your professors. Highlight the dates you will be missing their class on the schedule and give it to them. Also, remember, professors have to deal with a lot of things. Chances are they will not remember the dates you have highlighted. A few days before the game, remind them again that you will be missing class.
Finally, after graduation, the job search begins. It always helps to have a letter of recommendation from some of your college professors. In order to write you a letter your professors need to know who you are, so meet with them regularly.
Meet With Your Academic Advisor Regularly:
Your advisor is basically a glorified guidance counselor. They record all of the classes you take, how many credits you have earned, etc. They will be able to point you in the right direction on your path to graduation.
Once Again, Take Advantage Of The Academic Programs Offered By Your Coach.
College Gameplan: Junior Year Guide
By this point in there are no congratulations from us needed because you are an old, crusty, seasoned veteran in this college game. You’ve been in the trenches for the last two years fighting the good fight. You have your study strategies down pat, you know the ins and outs of your campus, you know which days of the week to stay away from the cafeteria. Now it is time to focus on life after college.
CHOOSE A MAJOR:
No more putting it off until next year, next week, or tomorrow. You’ve tested the water for two years, now it is time to pick a specific pool of study, and dive in head first. Scary? Yes. Necessary? You bet it is. So take the plunge.
Note: For those of you who have already chosen a major you need to remember that in the very near future you will be graduating and competing against your classmates for employment. Work on improving and honing your skills. An employer can find 50 people to the basic of a job well. You need to bring something more to the table, something that sets you apart from the rest. Discover your ace and place up your sleeve.
Be a leader:
You are an upperclassman now. Act like it. Set an example for younger teammates on and off the field. Keep a solid G.P.A., be respectful to authority figures, conduct your business properly at all times, show the younger players how to do things the correct way. The progressive development of your sports program is on your shoulders. What type of program will you leave behind after graduation, and, what type of people will you leave it with?
Finally, junior year is the time you need to start preparing yourself for the future. This is the time where you need to break bad habits, choose a career path, be responsible, and start securing the foundations you have built for your right future.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Soccer
It’s a fact that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. There are millions of players world wide and many of them are in high school. For those who do not sign a professional contract after their senior year, or after there fourteenth birthday like Freddy Adu, college is a fine choice, and your skills could help you financially. If you are aware of intricate process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to be rewarded for you hard work, which can help you pay for the rising cost of college (Please refer to our scholarship article).
If you are looking for other scholarships most colleges and universities have endowed scholarships for athletics as well as other departments. Also look at local soccer associations for soccer scholarships. Please note, college coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI soccer program 9.9 scholarships for Men and 12 for Women.
-DII programs have a total of 9 for men and 9.9 for women.
-There are 199 men's soccer programs at the DI level and 320 women's programs.
-There are 179 men's programs and 227 women's programs in DII soccer.
Scholarships by Sport: Skiing
For many competitive skiers a college athletic scholarship is not an unattainable item.
To receive a scholarship you will need to follow specific guidelines. Please refer to our scholarship article.
The NCAA recognizes skiing as a competitive sport. If you are a high school skier, you may be able to use your talents to receive a scholarship. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of their athletes and may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI skiing program 6.3 scholarships for men and 7 for women.
-DII programs are allotted 6.3 scholarships for both men and women.
Scholarships by Sport: Crew (Rowing)
For many competitive rowers there are many college scholarships available. Receiving a rowing scholarship is a different process because of the limited scholarships available. Please refer to our scholarship article, on how to approach soliciting a college scholarship.
College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and have the ability to grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows DI and DII crew programs 20 scholarships each.
-There are 84 DI and 15 DII programs that offer scholarships.
-That's a total of 1,980 crew scholarships available in the NCAA.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Lacrosse
Lacrosse:
For millions of lacrosse players there are many college scholarships available. To receive a scholarship you will need to follow specific guidelines. Please refer to our scholarship article.
The fact is lacrosse is one of the most competitive colligate sports. If you are a high school lacrosse player, you may be able to use your talents to pay for college. College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players or they grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-There are 83 DI colleges and 37 DII colleges that offer scholarships for women, a total of 1,211 in the NCAA.
-The NCAA allows each DI lacrosse program 12.69 scholarships for men and 12 for women.
-In DII there are 10.8 scholarships for men and 9.9 for women
-There are 57 DI and 32 DII colleges that offer lacrosse scholarships for men. That's a total of 1,009.26 in the NCAA.
Scholarships by Sport: Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey:
For ice hockey players around the world there are numerous college scholarships available. If you are aware of intricate process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to move forward and be financially rewarded for you hard work (Please refer to our scholarship article).
Ice hockey is a competitive sport not only in terms of talent but especially when speaking of scholarship availability. Coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent, sometimes making it difficult for even the top players in their respectful areas to earn any financial aid.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI ice hockey program 18 scholarships for men and 18 for women.
-In DII the ratio is the same.
-The total number of women's scholarships in the NCAA is 558 from 31 colleges.
-There are 60 DI and 6 DII colleges that offer ice hockey scholarships for men for a total of 1,188.
Scholarships by Sport: Gymnastics
Gymnastics:
For millions gymnasts there are many college scholarships available. If you are aware of intricate process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to move forward and be rewarded for you hard work (Please refer to our scholarship article).
Gymnastics is one of the most competitive college sports. Of the three collegiate athletic associations, the NCAA is the only sponsor of gymnastics. If you are a high school gymnast, you may be able to use your talents to pay for college. Coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players and may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI gymnastics program 6.3 scholarships for men and 12 for women.
-In DII the men’s programs are given 5.4 scholarships while women’s programs are allotted a complete 6.
-In total there are about 810 gymnastic scholarships available to girls in the NCAA.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
College Gameplan: Transfer Student Guide
A college student athlete will inevitably have to put up with loads of fecal matter before they can walk away from their school with that coveted piece of paper called a degree. Attaining student loans with a crashing economy, tough classes weighing down your grade point average, maybe you and your coach do not see eye to eye. These are just a few of the problems that may be faced during your college career. These objects that block your way on the path to accomplishment are hard enough to overcome when you possess a clear mind. Do you really want to take on these obstacles when you are at a school you detest?
For those of you who are hesitant to pull the trigger on a transfer, let me toss some knowledge at you. Transferring from one school to another is not a sign of failure. If you feel a change of scenery is needed, fear not, you are in good company. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 60% of college graduates who earn an undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s Degree) do so at two or more institutions. The NCES also stated that roughly 2.5 million students in the United States transfer to a different school each year.
So, now that you realize transferring is a very common occurrence, and not an incident to be frowned upon, the RateTheCoach team would like to provide you with some helpful considerations about the transfer process.
Create A List:
To get the process started you will want to create a list of schools that have the potential to meet your interests academically, athletically, socially, etc.
Make Contact:
Once you have compiled a list, it’s time for research. Go to the Web sites, talk to friends or relatives who are enrolled, talk with the coach and arrange a visit. Information is power. The more you have the easier your decision will be and the happier you will be with that decision.
Note: Going on visits is the best form information gathering available. When on campus you will learn things about the school that no Web site can show you and no representative can tell you.
Write A Review:
After you visit the Web site, talk to the coach, take a tour of the campus, and are satisfied with the amount of information you have stock piled, write a personal review of the school. This is important because when the time comes to make a decision, you will not have to rely on your memory alone. Notes are vital.
Here are a few things you may want to take notes on:
The Campus – Is it large or small? How far are the dorms from the classrooms? Can you walk to class or do you have to take a bus (Some schools have multiple campuses like Rutgers University, requiring students to take busses to classes)? Are the dorms well maintained? What type of eateries and stores are on campus? Is the campus nice? And most importantly, can you see yourself spending the next few years of your life living there?
The People – Part of college life is interacting with people (students, professors, teammates, coaches). When you visit a campus it is important to talk to its inhabitants, not just for information, but to see if you will be able to get along with these people for an extended amount of time.
The Surrounding Area – Being comfortable in the areas surrounding the campus is just as important as your comfort on campus. Can you handle a big city or are the suburbs the place for you? Will you go crazy out in the country or does the idea of no distractions around for miles make you feel good inside? You do not want to choose a campus because it looks nice, and the people are kind, and at night have to sleep on the floor to avoid gun fire because your campus is in the middle of a war zone.
Academics – Everybody is different. Thus, different people can handle different levels of academics. By now you know what your difficulty level. You need to be realistic. If you are currently attending West Virginia University (dubbed the top party school in the nation by the Princeton Review) you may want to think thrice about transferring to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). You need to find a school that you can realistically handle. Also, be sure the school offers the courses and programs you need to take.
Transfer Credits – Some schools do not accept certain course credits from transfer students. You need to be aware of this before submitting your final transfer documents.
Athletics – The RateTheCoach Team realizes that many student athletes would place this category higher on this list. However, to be fair to the mantra that has been repeated over, and over, and over again by the society we live in, the academics were placed ahead of the athletics. Anyway, once again this is an area where you need to be true to yourself.
You know what your ability is, you know what you can handle, and you know that it takes a special type of athlete to play football at the University of Florida. If you are an athlete, there is no greater disappointment than to be on the bench watching your teammates compete. Why transfer to a school you can not play at?
Break It Down! (Cue the D Generation X theme song):
When you have finished your research and all of the reviews have been written, all you have left to do is refine your list. Review the schools and discard any that do not meet your needs. When you have finished trimming the fat you should have a short list of contenders. At this point, if you have done the research, you really can not make a bad decision.
College Gameplan: Sophomore Year Guide
On behalf of the RateTheCoach, congratulations on getting through freshman year. You’ve weathered the storm of uncertainty and came out unscathed. Now that you’re comfortable in your surroundings it is time focus, to dig in, and get yourself headed on the right track to a successful future.
So let’s talk about your future. You need to set your sights on something. That is where your major comes in to play. If you have not yet done so, you need to decide on a major. Even if your college/university does not require you to make a choice during your second year, it would be beneficial to take it upon yourself and choose a career path. Learning career matching curriculum and developing particular field related thinking skills should be priorities during your second year of schooling.
Some Other Focal Points:
Here are a few ideas to think about:
Strengthen the relationship with your coach:
At this point you should have some sort of relationship with your coach. Whether it’s good, bad, or otherwise, develop it further. Open up further to your coach. Reveal any problems you may be having. As stated before, a strong working relationship with your coach is an important pat of having a successful college experience.
Do yourself a favor and stay on campus:
Contrary to popular belief, there is little to no benefit to living off campus. Grocery shopping, cleanliness, the politics of housemates, and paying rent are just a few pieces of baggage that come along with living in an off campus house.
Note: On the subject of the late night party, all of the freshman year hall monitoring that occurs is for show. Sophomore year is a totally different story. It’s a lot like the army with a don’t ask don’t tell policy. As long as you keep your door closed you shouldn’t encounter any problems (But keep all this on the DL).
Meet different, successful people, and learn from them:
This is really quite self explanatory. Whether it is a professor, an older student, or speaker brought to campus to address the student body, network with this person, become friendly, ask questions, and let them be a mentor to you. You can become accomplished in your field of study, by learning from successful people.
Note: These days, any person who has had success in their field has usually written a book on how they obtained that success. Do not be afraid to do a little reading. I have read more books as a leisure time activity in college than I ever read in high school. Why? Because as a college student you are able to read what interest you. The amount of students that are turned off from reading due to their high school curriculums is staggering. A Tale of Two Cities, The Grapes of Wrath, Billy Budd: who the hell wants to read those? In college reading can be fun, and because it is fun, it can be a useful learning tool.
Join college groups:
Build up that resume` by joining some extracurricular programs, employers will love it.
Start making a career plan:
Junior and senior year is when you really want to start looking into an internship, so plan ahead and begin your search this year.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Scholarships by Sport: Golf
Golf is rapidly transforming into one of the most competitive sports in the NCAA and has seen an increase the number of scholarships readily available. If you are aware of systematic process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to move forward and be successfully rewarded for you hard work. Please refer to our scholarship article.
Note: College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players or they grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI men's golf program 4.5 scholarships and each DII program 3.6.
-For women there are 6 scholarships available in DI schools and 5.4 in DII.
-That's a total of 1,980.1 scholarships for men and 1,812 for women.
-There are 290 DI and 199 DII colleges that offer men's golf scholarships.
-For women, there are 228 DI and 109 DII colleges that offer scholarships.
Scholarships by Sport: Fooball
There are plenty of college scholarships available for high school football players. In fact, of all NCAA sports, football is granted the largest amount of scholarships to be distributed. If you are aware of specific process of receiving a scholarship, you may be rewarded for you hard work (Please refer to our scholarship article).
Essentially, what needs to take place for a player to receive a football scholarship can be boiled down into three criteria. You need to be talented, you need exposure (and you need to put that exposure to good use by making a good impression on coaches), and you need to be lucky.
Note: For help gaining exposure refer to our Student Athlete profile article.
Remember, college coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players, or, may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-There are 236 DI, 156 DII, and 235 DIII programs in the country.
-The NCAA allows each DI football program 85 scholarships {I-A} and 63 scholarships {I-AA}.
-DII schools are allotted 36 scholarships
Scholarships by Sport: Field hockey
For millions of athletes that play field hockey in America there is college scholarships available. If you are aware of the process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to move forward and be successfully rewarded for you hard work (Please refer to our scholarship article).
Field hockey is a competitive sport and most college campuses support only women's varsity field hockey. Please note, college coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players or they may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-There are 77 DI and 26 DII colleges that offer field hockey scholarships.
-That's a total of 1,087.9 scholarships available in the NCAA.
Monday, March 30, 2009
College Gameplan: Build a Strong Relationship With Your Coach
You need to build a strong athlete-coach relationship. This partnership will foster success in academics and athletics so be sure to make every effort to develop a strong working relationship with your coach.
Here are some tips to strengthen your relationship with a coach courtesy of the RateTheCoach Team:
Make Meeting with Your Coach a Weekly Thing:
The more you meet with your coach the better the two of you will get to know each other and with understanding comes comfort. In other words, once you learn what type of personality your coach has, you will in turn learn how to go about conducting a meeting with him/her. You will know whether your coach wants you in and out quickly, or is up for a chat, thus making the conference process less awkward.
Keep the Coach Informed About Your Academic Performance:
Most of the time coaches will receive academic reports for all of their players (If you are unsure about this, go meet with your coach). However, if this is not the case, it is your responsibility to inform the coach about you performance in the classroom, good, bad, or otherwise.
WARNING: The worst thing you can do is keep an academic problem from a coach. They will not be upset if you go to them seeking help. What will PISS THEM OFF, is if at the end of the semester, they receive a notice stating your academic ineligibility.
Periodically Review Short and Long Term Goals with Your Coach:
This is pretty self explanatory. Every athlete should set realistic short term and long term goals for themselves. Once you have these goals in mind it is important to make your coach aware of these objectives. Finally, once notified, coaches will usually try to help you achieve these goals.
Get Some Feedback:
Coaches will not deny you if every few weeks you ask them for a progress report. If anything, they will like the fact that you are working hard, trying to improve weaknesses.
Some Important Reminders
Respect Breeds Respect:
When meeting with a coach, or any authority figure, it is important to treat them with respect. If you have a problem, if you need help, if you are in search of some sort of information, go and speak to your coach in a respectful manner. If you respect them they will take notice and treat you with the same respect. If you approach them in anger, if you whine to them, if you complain about every little thing, coaches will be less likely to guide you in the right direction.
Be Honest with Yourself before Asking About Playing Time:
A players’ perspective of him/herself is ultimately a product of their former environment. Despite how college coaches and teammates may see them, if a player has been told how great they are their entire lives, most likely their point of view will not change. It is important for a college athlete to be honest. Are you really better than your team’s All-American short-stop as a freshman? Probably not. So be sure to evaluate your talent level before seeking more playing time. Thinking highly of yourself can only lead to disaster (look at Terell Owens). If you are good at what you do there is no need to tell others about it, they will tell you.
Be Open to Suggestions:
A coach will only tinker with your game if you go into a slump. So, if you do not take constructive criticism well, play good. For those of us who do not have perfection gushing from every pore, it is important to keep an open mind toward criticism. If you have made it to the college level that means your technique is very good. Coaches will sometimes offer constructive criticism to help make your techniques a little more efficient. Be flexible, be respectful, even try their advice for a while. You may learn something new and helpful. If what they suggest fails to work, relay that to them. By conversing, the two of you may come up with something new.
Scholarships by Sport: Fencing
Fencing:
Fencers everywhere lend RateTheCoach your ears. We would like to inform you that your sword wielding abilities may be rewarded at the collegiate level. So, knights of the high school cafeteria table please refer to our scholarship article so you may be notified about the scholarship obtainment process.
Note: Due to the lack of scholarships readily available getting your hands on one is a bit more difficult of a process (Refer to our scholarship article).
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI fencing program 4.5 scholarships for men and 5 for women.
-In DII schools coaches are allotted 4.5 scholarships each for men and women.
Scholarships by Sport: Cross Country
Cross country:
There is an abundance of scholarships available for cross country athletes who aspire to compete at the college level. If you are aware of the intricate process of receiving a scholarship, you will have a firm foundation to move forward with that process, and have a better chance of being rewarded financially for you hard work (Please refer to our scholarship article to gain additional information).
Note: College coaches have the options and the flexibility to divide scholarships among the majority of players or may grant larger scholarships to attract better talent.
The Scholarship Break Down:
-The NCAA allows each DI track and field / cross country program 12.69 scholarships for men and 18 for women.
-In DII schools the number of available scholarships for men and women is equal with 12.6 apiece.
-There are a total of 6,641.46 male cross country scholarships. For women, the total amounts to 8,901.
College Gameplan: The Ins and Outs of the Major
To declare one’s major is to announce to the world of higher learning that one has arrived. Declaring a major is a significant concept to the collegiate scholar and places those who depart from high school with a career choice in mind at somewhat of an advantage, in the sense that those students can start taking core classes right from the start. The decision is an important one and should not be stared upon with a lazy eye. The following will assist you with the decision making process, offering you a brief insight of the factors a prospective college student needs to consider, research, and evaluate.
Do Not Panic:
Before we go any further it needs to be stated that although choosing a major is imperative to your college success, there is no need to put a rush on your decision. Does it help to have an idea of what you might like to focus your studies around right away? The answer is obviously yes. However, if you can’t think of anything off the top of your head, there is no need to sound the alarm. Although not true of every institution, most schools do not require their students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year or even the beginning of their junior year. As stated before, this notion is not set in stone so be sure to do some homework on the matter. However, for the most part, you will have plenty of time to do research and come to an informed conclusion.
Choosing the Right Major:
It has already been stated that choosing a major directly out of high school is the suggested plan of action, but do not make any hasty decisions just to say you have a major. There is no point in jumping to conclusions if your heart is not in what you choose to study. Your interest will falter, the work will seem tedious, and it will show in your final grades. Making sure you pick the right major is the most important thing you can do to ensure your success.
Get by With a Little Help From Your Advisor:
The only way to choose the correct major for you is to conduct research. Prior to entering college you can talk to friends and family about the majors offered at their school. Every university offers tours of its campus. Take the tour, ask the guide questions and meet with head of the department you may be interested in. If a meeting can not be scheduled, e-mail is a great tool and is usually the preferred method of communication of professors and administrators. Sticking with the computer theme, every university has a Web site that lists majors, minors, and provides a catalog of most courses offered at the school.
Once you start paying tuition at the college of your choice, if your major is still undeclared, there are a number of research methods at your finger tips. The first step is to meet with your academic advisor. This advisor may be a professor or a department head. Every student is assigned to an advisor and you must not hesitate to seek out the advisor for help (you pay thousands of dollars a year to attend that college and that advisor works for you so get your money’s worth). The advisor can help you explore your interests through career tests and other specific career exploration exercises. Once your major is chosen you and your advisor should formulate a game plan for your academic career.
Introductory Courses:
If the initial proceedings with your advisor do not help, you should be counseled to take a series of introductory courses. The intro courses should be in a wide array of subjects in the hope that one of the classes may spark an interest and focus your academic course load. This spark may lead you in the direction of a major.
Do Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s State of Affairs:
So here’s the situation. You’ve moved your stuff into the dorm room, the first week of classes is upon you, and you still have no idea what you want to do with your life? All your friends have declared a major, they are taking their core classes, and you would trade situations with them in a heart beat. Before you start drawing up the transaction papers and panicking (which, if you have read the prior paragraphs you would know is unnecessary), you should understand that according to studies, 50-70% of students will change majors during their college careers. As important as college is, it is still an experimental period. It will open your eyes to new career possibilities you never dreamed possible.
How to Make the Major Switch:
If you fall into the category that 50 to 70% of students in America do, at some point during your schooling you will switch your major. It is recommended, that if you are pondering a switch, to speak to your academic advisor. Together the two of you can formulate a plan of action for your classes. Now, although it is simple to say you want to switch majors, there may be certain forms that must be filled out to make the change official. Again, speak to your advisor and find out the college’s protocol.
The Double Major:
Not to be confused with an ejection in hockey, the double major can be very beneficial to a college student. The most obvious benefit to double majoring is, quite simply, that it makes you look great in the eyes of a potential employer. The better your resume, the more marketable and dynamic you become, making it easier to get a job after graduation.
Another reason the double major is valuable is because it broadens your range of expertise. Instead of being trained for four years in one area, you will be educated in multiple fields opening up more doors for you during your post college job search.
Although a valuable feat if completed, the double major does have its downside. A student with a double major must earn more credits to graduate than a student with only a single major. This ultimately means more classes need to be taken which requires more time and more money. The double major is not for everyone so make your decision wisely. Again, stress is placed on doing research.
College Gameplan: Freshman Year Survial Guide
Successfully transitioning from the mindset of the high school kid to college adult is a large obstacle. It is important to have fun in college and it is inevitable that you will. Distracting yourself from the stresses of class is a necessity if you wish to hang on to your sanity. However, keeping your focus on the prizes you wish to achieve from four years of schooling is a concept that can erode quickly for the student who is easily distracted by too much fun. The RateTheCoach Team has compiled a list of tips to help guide you through your freshman year as well your entire college career. Enjoy!
Get To Class:
“Get to class,” is a phrase that was barked at you in the past by security guards and administrators, and I am positive that you never thought you would have to hear again after graduation. And you are correct. In college, nobody is going to come to your room, hunt you down on campus, or call your cell phone to tell you “Get to class.” It is all on your shoulders. For the student athlete, going to each and every class you can is a MUST, because you will miss plenty when the season rolls around. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind: If you don’t perform in the classroom, you will not be permitted to perform on the field.
Be Responsible:
When you get everything packed away in your dorm room and your parents take that long ride back home, a great thing occurs (more often than not a party), a feeling of independence will pulsate through your body. Now, with that independence comes, for many students, their first taste of real responsibility. I’m not talking about making sure the trash cans go out to the curb the night before pick up type of responsibility. I’m speaking about the type of responsibility that accompanies the student athlete who is on his/her own for the first time. If you go to the aforementioned party, will you consume alcohol? If so, how much? Will your consumption interfere with your performance on the field? Don’t forget about your teammates. Will they approve of your decision if you play poorly? Be responsible, if not for your own well being, then to your teammates, coaches, and athletic program.
Be Organized:
Everybody is different. Some people need to live organized. Others work better if no plan for the day is worked out. Organized or not, written down or remembered, the most important thing is that everyday you have a plan of action and you follow that plan. Eventually you should develop a daily routine. Three bullet points that need to be worked into your daily routine:
Your classes
Gym/Practice time
Homework
I can’t quite put my finger on the reasoning behind it but most college professors are very personable. They love meeting and talking with their students outside of the classroom. Indulge in their mysterious ways. Meet with them for extra help. Stop in their office and say hello. Showing your professors that you really care about the material they teach (even if you don’t, which is sometimes the case) is a simple way to guarantee yourself, at the very least, a decent grade in a class. Plus, it makes the conversation go a lot smoother when you notify him or her of the class dates you have to miss due to games.
Meet With Your Coaches:
Coaches are not there to be your friend and chances are they will inform you of this numerous times. However, this does not mean they do not enjoy helping their players whenever the opportunity presents itself. Meet with your coaches on a fairly regular basis (but not so much that it annoys them). A good player-coach relationship can help you on the field and even in the classroom. During the class registration period, coaches can sometimes get you into courses that are full, or at least point you in the direction of someone who can help you.
Manage Your Time Well:
This tip is the simplest to write, the easiest to say, and the hardest to do. Finding a balance in all aspects of your life is the key to success in college. Managing your time well is the most difficult hurdle to leap but is a jump that must be made. You can’t sit in your room all day playing video games and expect to get good grades, just like you can’t stay in the library all day and expect not to crack up. Having balance in your life allows you to accomplish great things.
Live Healthy:
You are going to experience some bad times in the health department. There is no way around it. Undisturbed sleep can sometimes be hard to come by at night. Unhealthy food will follow you in every campus eatery. It is vital that you try to live as healthy as possible. Take your vitamins, seek medical attention at the campus infirmary if you feel sickness coming on, and when possible make good food choices. Also, get to the gym and get tired. It will help you drown out your floor mates who insist on playing video games until 5:00 a.m.
Your College Education Is What You Make Of It:
The first thing you need to learn about taking college courses is that an open mind is essential. There is one big difference between high school teachers and college professors. In high school the teachers regurgitated to you facts and the opinions of others. In college, you’ll get the facts, but the goal of the professor is to have you formulate your own opinions. If you are content with memorizing facts, taking tests, and then forgetting the material, then you will waste four years of your life. But if you want to learn to develop a voice and make informed opinions on important subject matter, if you want to develop new ways of thinking, if you want to view your world in a new way, you need to get involved and do more than follow your syllabus. Your college education is what you make of it.