High School Athlete
College Prep Guide for High School Student-Athletes
A year-by-year academic and athletic roadmap to prepare for college — from freshman year through signing day.
Start With the End in Mind
The athletes who arrive at college best prepared are not the ones who worked hardest in their senior year — they are the ones who started planning in ninth grade. College preparation is a four-year project, not a last-minute scramble. This guide gives you a year-by-year framework to follow.
Freshman Year: Build Your Foundation
Focus entirely on your grades — your freshman GPA sets the tone for your entire academic record. Take the most rigorous courses your schedule allows. Join your high school team and compete hard. Research what college athletics looks like at different division levels. Begin building the work habits — time management, consistent effort, attention to detail — that college will demand.
Sophomore Year: Raise Your Profile
Take the PSAT to identify your testing strengths and weaknesses. Begin SAT/ACT prep. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Create your recruiting profile and highlight video. Identify 30 to 40 college programs across all division levels and begin researching them. Attend your first showcase events. Send your first emails to coaches.
Junior Year: The Critical Year
Junior year is the most important year in the recruiting process. Take the SAT or ACT and register your scores with the Eligibility Center. Intensify your outreach to coaches — this is when most scholarship offers are made in the major sports. Attend official and unofficial campus visits. Continue taking challenging courses and maintaining your GPA.
Senior Year: Decide and Sign
Narrow your choices and make your college decision. Sign your National Letter of Intent during the appropriate signing period. Complete your FAFSA application as early as possible. Finish your high school career strong — coaches watch your senior season, and scholarship offers can be rescinded for academic or character issues. Arrive on campus ready to compete.
Throughout All Four Years
Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and injury prevention. Build relationships with your teachers and coaches — letters of recommendation matter. Develop your leadership skills. Stay out of trouble — social media posts, disciplinary incidents, and legal issues follow you into the recruiting process. Be the athlete and person a college coaching staff wants to bring into their program.