Athletic Scholarship Pros And Cons

Athletic Scholarships
The issue of giving out scholarships to athletes has become more of heated matter in the last few years. Furthermore, both sides of the argument present good points and don’t want to give any ground to the side. However, is it wrong to give out a scholarship to an athlete that deserves it? Does every Athlete get a scholarship? Do the Schools suffer or the community in that area because they give out a large number of scholarships? Why should Schools keep giving out athletic Scholarships? How are some of the new boundaries athletes have to keep?
Whether it’s football, basketball, lacrosse, or swimming, there are lots of scholarships available to student-athletes. The Scholarships that are given are not guaranteed, every School has requirements and guidelines that must be kept at all times. NCAA colleges require prospective student-athletes to complete and pass what they have titled “core courses” in order to be eligible to compete at the NCAA Division I and Division II college level. In addition to completing required core courses, potential recruits will also have to maintain at least a 2.3 GPA for course courses. Now because

of the new requirements for student-athletes graduating in 2016 or later are going to be much higher than the current markers. If current high school athletes were required to meet the new academic standards, over 15% of incoming freshman would not be eligible.
Today people think that if someone is good at a sport then they will get a scholarship and all of their problems will be over. But for many high school students and their families, the glass looks less than half empty. Less than 10 percent of high school students go on to play in college just about seven percent of the cross country and track and field athletes. And depending on the level of play, the average athletic scholarship ranges from $0 (Division III) to less than $15,000 per year (Division I). Overall, colleges and universities awarded more than $3 billion in athletic scholarships in 2013 but very few of those were full rides. In most sports, coaches are allowed to divvy up scholarships. In 2013, the average amount of money awarded to NCAA Division 1 athletes was $13,821 for men and $14,660 for women. Other divisions offer less, and Division 3 schools offer no athletic scholarships at all.
After looking at how little money is given to scholarships people still think schools should cut back. However, look at the reasons why we should give more to the athletic programs.
According to a 2010 Trends in College Pricing report by College Board, since the year 2000, public four-year tuition and fees have increased more than 5 percent annually above inflation. Tuition at public two-year colleges and private four-year colleges also increased by 3 percent above inflation.
The economy stinks, and your parents have no money.

Well, hopefully, that's not 100 percent accurate, but there's definitely some truth to that statement. While parents still very much value contributing to their children's college tuition, the amount that families can afford to contribute has declined. A study commissioned by lender Sallie Mae and conducted by Gallup found that the number of families who planned to cover few if any college costs had risen while the number of parents expecting to cover more than half of the costs had dropped. A similar survey conducted by Longmire and Company, a higher-ed consulting firm, found that 33 percent the largest percentage of parents said they planned on contributing less than $5,000 to their child's college tuition, barely enough to cover four years of

textbooks.
The cost of college living is up. Unless you plan on living at home and commuting to school a very good option for a lot of college students plan on paying a lot more than your older brother or sister paid for your apartment, food, books, and supplies. All of these things have gotten more expensive.
State support for students has decreased substantially. Although it looks like America may have weathered the worst of the recession (let's hope), many states are still reeling from the economic slump and most have made large cuts in public service funding including higher education. As a result, public colleges and universities have increased tuition, meaning you're probably going to pay more now.
People owe a lot of money. One-quarter of the U.S. population 70 million people owe a collective $700 billion in student loan debt. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? It is. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, the average college graduate has acquired $24,000 in student loans by the time they graduate, and that figure is likely to increase. Experts say this may be the next financial bubble to burst.
I know what you might be thinking. And the answer is a resounding yes going to college is worth it. Your college degree will be one of the most lucrative investments you'll make. College graduates earn, on average, $20,000 more per year than someone with just a high school diploma, according to a 2007 report by College Board. The cost of attending college may seem daunting, but that's exactly why finding, applying for, and receiving scholarships are essential to ensure that you won't struggle to make huge student loan payments upon graduation. Scholarships are no longer just a bonus. They're crucial for bridging the gap between the increasing cost of tuition and what you and your family can afford to pay out of pocket.