Michelle asked: “Is it hard to balance sports and academics in college? And how do you join varsity sports? Do you send a video or are there tryouts?”
Thanks for the questions, Michelle! I’ve been thinking about doing a post with info for and about student athletes, so I’m really glad you asked.
The ease or difficulty of balancing athletic and academic commitments really depends on your personal work style. If you work well under pressure and in a time crunch, then it should be too much of a problem. And even if you’re not adept at this yet, you’ll develop the skill. It definitely takes practice to know how to manage time in a way that best suits your needs, but since you’re an athlete, practice is something that you’re used to! Also, many schools have mandatory study halls for their student athletes to make sure that they fulfill their academic commitments.
At Columbia, there was a specific staff member whose job it was to help the student athletes deal with their schedules and worked as a liaison between the students and their professors if issues arose throughout the year. I don’t know how universal this practice is, but I know it came in handy for my athletic friends when they had to pick classes around their workout sessions and needed extra time for papers during the season. Student athletes are certainly still expected to get their assignments completed, but there is some leeway given to them because of the validity of their other commitments.
Before you can worry about balancing sports and schoolwork, however, you need to get on the team. Usually, this is done through the recruiting process, with the school contacting you if they are interested in you playing for them. If you are interested in a school but they are not recruiting you, however, all hope isn’t lost. There is always the option of contacting the coach of the team to express your interest in playing for them. Depending on the school, this could lead to them coming to see you play or asking you to send in a tape. If you decide to play once you are already on campus, you should definitely look into being a “walk-on.” Every school has a different policy on this, so check with the athletic department to see what the protocol is.
Figure out if playing college sports is really worth it before you even embark on the above process. While playing is fun, being on a varsity-level team requires a huge time commitment both on and off the field. You have to make sure that you are available for practices, lifts, and games, but also the team-building activities that take place during the down time. Also, be sure to remember that it’s not varsity or bust. If you still want to play but decide that the official team isn’t quite right for you, check out the club sports that your school has to offer. They are a great way to stay in shape, make friends, and still be part of the sport you love without the huge commitment that comes with varsity level participation.
