Athletic Privileges in College Programs

Current student athletes at colleges get treated like they are part of the royal family. A majority, if not all, of their schooling is paid for, they have their own academic centers to work in that are provided with tutors if needed, better housing units, and the list can go on and on. Many would say that this is acceptable, that they worked hard to play for a college team; however, several are against it. Athletes should be given more privileges than the average college student, but not as many are received. Whatever view a person chooses to take, one thing is clear, there is a significant different in treatment to students by colleges between athletes and non-athletic students.

High School is an important part in a child’s life. It becomes the foundation to the start of their future usually following with college. Applying for college is a huge step. Deciding where to go, what to do, or even to attend at all goes through everyone’s head at a point of time in their life. However, the difference is how each and every individual attending college started. Some were gifted enough to be given an academic scholarship based on their intelligence level. While as the students who excel in athletics not only get scholarships, but they also receive other benefits as well. College athletes are given privileges that your average college student do not even have access to or even the ones with high intelligence.

For starters, the acceptance to a college is easier if they are trying to recruit an athlete even if they do not have the grades. One usually tends to bend the rules a little, therefore they have the ability to play for their college even though the school’s regular academic requirements might not be met. Although very few schoo...

... middle of paper ...

...hletes based solely on athletic merit. Many defenders of this privilege argue that because athletes choose to accept extra responsibility, they deserve extra amenities. However, the primary purpose of a college is to provide higher education for its students, and to provide them with a job they have been specially trained for. Critics who argue against the privilege agree that this kind of reward system hurts the academic basis of college youth. In reality, the chances of finding a professional career after college are very slim, and colleges that endorse the sole focus of athletics do little to prepare their athletic students for life without a professional athletic career. Whatever side one may be on, defending athletic privilege, or arguing against it, the difference in the two is not only noticeable, but also staggering in the different qualities of treatment.