Students who have spent their lives training and are incredibly good at sports may get a shot at a lucrative sports career while in college. Not only does this lead to a healthy lifestyle that will probably last them a lifetime, but being incredibly good in sports also means that one can enroll in the best sports colleges in the US. Top universities are always looking for the best athletes to take their sports teams to the next level. This could be a boon to aspiring athletes who would normally not have the funds to attend such colleges while paying the full fees.

However, being good at sports is not the only prerequisite for getting a spot in one of these specialized colleges/universities. One also needs to have maintained good grades during high school. Upon application to these reputed colleges, athletes may have to present an essay on why they are a good fit for the university team. One may read up on free essay about sport first to get a clear idea of presenting their ideas eloquently. Working knowledge of sports education is essential and must be made known to the admissions committee.

There are several pros to having a sports career, but unfortunately, there are some cons too. Here are some of them:

Pros:

1. Access to Financial Aid:

If you are good at specific sports, your chosen university may waive the fees to a certain extent or entirely! This certainly is a significant incentive for all the hours you have spent training.

2. Free tutoring:

Most academic institutions provide free tutoring services to their star athletes. These tutors help such athletes score better in their academic performance and make a difference in their GPA.

3. Healthy lifestyle:

One of the biggest perks of being an athlete is that you are incredibly fit and healthy. You work out so much that you can eat whatever you want and have incredible stamina and endurance.

Cons:

1. Not enough financial aid:

Not all colleges offer a full scholarship to their athletes. If you don’t qualify for a full waiver, you may have to pay a hefty sum to get into one of the top sports colleges.

2. Not enough time for studying:

As an athlete, you will probably be so busy on the field that you won’t have enough time to catch up on your lessons. Between practice and classes, you may find yourself getting overwhelmed soon enough.

3. No social life:

Colleges usually mean parties for other scholars. But, for you, it probably won’t be. You would be required to sleep at a certain hour and maintain good health and physique to stay in the team. This could mean no social life for you.

Even though a sports career comes with a few cons, it is still worth pursuing. Some globally reputed colleges can contribute to career goals in sports that everyone wants to achieve. Here are some of the most outstanding sports colleges in the US.

University of Florida:

Based in Gainesville, Florida, the University of Florida holds the history for winning all three Southeastern Conference All-Sports titles of the 2016-17 season. There are several programs for aspiring athletes, and many have gone on to make professional sports careers. Some notable alumni include Emmitt Smith, David Eckstein, and Ryan Lochte.

Stanford University:

Stanford University holds the record for 23 consecutive wins of the Learfield Director’s Cup. The Stanford women’s water polo team and the women’s swimming and diving team won the 2017 NCAA championship. Besides the aquatic teams, there are programs for other sports. John McEnroe, Ruben Amaro Jr., and John Elway went to Stanford.

University of California:

The University of California is home to Pasadena’s legendary Rose Bowl and demands exceptional players. Many varsity teams have helped take UCLA to 113 NCAA championship titles. Famous athletes such as Troy Aikman, Jonathan Ogden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Russell Westbrook attended UCLA.

Athletes who wish to build a career in sports may benefit by applying to one of these universities. Even with a full or partial scholarship, these training programs may help aspiring athletes build a professional career in sports.