As a result of advising and counseling hundreds of students in their college selection (as well as DURING their college experience), we encourage students to consider the following factors in their decision making process:

Parents, if you are contributing financially, these should be factors you strongly consider as well.

Critical Factors to assist in college success, avoid financial hardship, mature as an adult, and avoid predatory behavior:

1. Choose schools with apparent higher standards and/or Christian priorities in their formation and/or continued administration.
2. Note schools which have intercollegiate basketball, baseball, cross country, track, volleyball, and soccer.
3. Observe their academic reputation and ability to place students into careers immediately after graduation. Choose schools with higher standards for class attendance.
4. Only Division 1 universities, in the major sports, offer full scholarships.   Everyone else combines academic, merit, and need based AID to HELP pay the majority of your college tuition, room & board.  Therefore, note which schools offer generous MERIT based scholarships,  for character, music, drama, etc, as well as your chosen sport.  Note the ones who average granting 50% or more of the total cost of education. 
   There is a difference between "Grants", "Aid", and loans.  The loans may be added to your scholarship package but you must pay it back.
   This is explained more at #11.
   
5. Schools with single-sex dorms and even schools with NO co-ed dorms.
6. Prefer schools with a “NO SUBSTANCE” campus policy or at least substance-free dorms.
   
7. Learn about schools that require chapel, varying from 1x, 3x and daily chapels.  We found them to help motivate students as well as connect students with numerous influential people.. 
8. Learn your options from schools with majors that are very inspiring and career provoking.  Note the ones which offer everything from a variety of ministry careers to the arts, education, history, or outdoor careers.
9. Make sure their technology is up to date with numerous computer stations and labs.  Compare the quality of the wireless networks and the number of stations each school has to ensure your access to technology at the school.
10. Know the difference between private and public schools, NAIA and Division III.  So many schools  offer on-line classes you are wise to take advantage of that to work around demanding athletic and travel schedules.  It also helps you graduate quicker. 
11. DON'T be tricked when reading your financial aid package.  LOANS are not scholarships.  They will include it on your financial award paper but you have to pay those back after graduation (or after sitting out from attending for awhile).  It's important to keep your total loan obligations to $25,000 or less after completion of your degree - or basically the cost of an affordable car loan.

 
Realistic Expectations:

• ·             Full scholarships are primarily given to Division I athletes in football and basketball.
• ·             Some D-1 athletes in soccer, baseball or track will get CLOSE to a full scholarship if a top recruit.
• ·             Top recruits for a DIVISION II or NAIA I school may receive full combination scholarships – by adding academic, financial need,                               sometimes minority grants, and athletic.

• ·             ROTC involvement and scholarships  are the surest way to get maximum aid and monthly income if you are not a high profile
                athlete.  However, this requires at least a monthly military commitment (like national guard) and probably deployment at least once
                in your initial 5 year commitment.     This has provided numerous students with guaranteed employment after college as well.
  

NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS  (NIL)​
The Purpose      Empower Athletes Financially
For decades, student-athletes generated billions in revenue for universities, media companies, and sponsors, yet were prohibited from earning money themselves. NIL laws aimed to correct this imbalance by letting athletes monetize their personal brand through endorsements, social media, appearances, and more.
 
The Problem
Athletes have chosen the easy path and just waited for schools to offer them income in exchange for competing for their team and attending their school.  In actuality, they turned control back over to the institutions.   Seeing the easy in which some athletes financially benefit, lesser known/accomplished athletes end up believing that there are limited financial opportunities for them.
 
Reality
The initial intent was to create unlimited freedom to earn income while attending college.  ALL students are able to benefit from their own “brand” and accomplishments, skill, and abilities now – even if it is unrelated to their sport!   If anybody should excel at this it should be smaller college athletes because there is more need (the tuition is usually higher) and they are used to creating opportunities for themselves. It takes more work and initiative but there is no time limit on this endeavor.  Those depending on the institution alone to provide income can choose to end the relationship and it ends anyway at the conclusion of the playing career.   In this case, there is no expiration date.

If this interests you, and you would like to use this opporunity for God's glory please contact us at any of the following:
[email protected]
[email protected]
330.352.4231 (ask for John)
Request a consultation meeting regarding creating your own personalized, God-honoring, NIL deal.

Personal assistance is available for free by contacting us at :   [email protected]