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College Info

Applying to College

After you have researched colleges, gone on college visits and decided on a few colleges to apply to, you need to fill out the application. What is a college looking for when they are reviewing applications? While individual colleges will differ in how they evaluate certain information, generally colleges are looking at the following:

  • Grade Point Average (GPA)
  • Courses taken (how rigorous are they? Quality?)
  • ACT/SAT scores
  • Letters of Recommendation (teacher, school counselor, boss)
  • Personal Essay
  • Activities/awards

Keep in mind that colleges are looking for well-rounded individuals. They like to see students who can balance both challenging courses and extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities can range from athletics or club participation to volunteering or working, etc. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure colleges have received your application materials

NCAA/NAIA Eligibility

There are three divisions of NCAA schools: Division I, Division II, and Division III. If you are a college-bound student-athlete, there are 3 possible academic outcomes regarding your eligibility:

  • Full Qualifier: Can participate in competitions and practices; scholarship eligible
  • Academic Redshirt: Can practice during the regular academic term (semester or quarter)
  • Non-Qualifier: No practice or competition the first year.
NCAA Division I Eligibility NCAA Division II Eligibility NAIA Division I/II Eligibility
16 core courses with a minimum of a 2.3 GPA in those courses 16 core courses with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in those courses

Must graduate high school and Must achieve 2 out of 3:

  • Earn a SAT score of 860 (critical reading and math only) or minimum of 18 on the ACT
  • Achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 on 4.0 scale
  • Graduate in the top half of your high school class.

Division I Core Courses:

  • 4 years English,
  • 3 years Math (Algebra or higher)
  • 2 years natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school)
  • 1 year of additional English, math or science
  • 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy)

*Requires 10 core courses to be completed prior to the 7th semester.

* 7 of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural/physical science that meets the distribution requirements.These courses will be “locked in,” meaning that if they are repeated, the replacement grades will not be used.

Division II Core courses:

  • 3 years of English 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
  • 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
  • 3 additional years of English, math, or natural or physical science
  • 2 years of social science
  • 4 years of additional core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)
Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching the corecourse GPA on the Division I sliding scale. Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching the core-course GPA on the Division II full qualifier sliding scale.
When you register for SAT/ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT/ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. When you register for SAT/ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT/ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency.
If you plan on playing Division I or II athletics, be sure to register with the NCAA at www.eligibilitycenter.org. If you plan on playing Division I or II athletics, be sure to register with the NCAA at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

 

NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Steps by Grade