Ski and Go to School for Free
For some competitive high school skiers, obtaining a skiing scholarship is a great way to help offset the rising cost of a higher education. As with any competitive collegiate sport, skiing at the collegiate level will require more than a little talent. The best way to find out if you are talented enough to go for a skiing scholarship is to take in a few college level ski meets. That way you can see just what to expect; and if you can hang with the big dogs!
Scholarship Fundamentals
In the world of college skiing, the NCAA offers no fewer than thousands of scholarships. There are a few different types of skiing scholarships offered, including:
•Full-Rides (pays for courses, books and most costs incurred while in college)
•Partial Scholarships (coaches split up the funds to many individuals; more money to go around to more players this way)
•Walk-Ons (where you try out for the team and if you are deemed the cream of the crop, your costs will be offset accordingly)
Scholarships for Men and Women
Skiing scholarships are offered for both men and women in the skiing field. For the guys, there are many Division I colleges that are allotted about 6 scholarships yearly for those involved in skiing. Division II also shares the same amount of skiing scholarships per NCAA colleges. Women skiers can expect to see about 7 scholarships from each Division I school and about 6 per each Division II College.
You can choose to be a competitive skier in either Alpine or Nordic styles from some of the very best institutions.
Something to Think About
You may or may not have a good idea of where you would like to attend college. If you are looking to obtain a skiing scholarship, there are a few institutions that are renowned for their ski programs.
Whether you are male or female or you participate in Alpine or Nordic ski competitions, the University of Colorado is a special place to be. Usually ranking no lower than 5th place on the Ncaa top lists, the University of Colorado offers a beautiful place to sharpen your mind and skiing skills. Training takes place from 6:30am until 9:00am and no classes are scheduled before 11:00am. (NOT so that you can sleep in!) High on the Eldora Mountain Resort, you will find yourself glade skiing and wide open cruising on perfectly shaped slopes. There is also about 45 km of cross country skiing and snowshoeing to boot!
The guys and gals can also excel in skiing when they choose to attend the University of Denver. Catering to both Nordic and Alpine skiers, the University of Denver not only addresses the athletic needs of skiers, but the scholarship levels, as well. In the beautiful Colorado countryside, you can train with confidence knowing that you are among some of the greats! In it's history, the skiing program at the University of Colorado has seen over 50 Olympians and multiple inductees into the National Ski Hall of Fame. Also food for thought: the average GPA of the ski team is about 3.4... The average of regular students (not in the ski program) is 3.2. So, you and your parents can also have the peace that comes with the fact that you are also getting a top-notch education at the same time!
Of course, if you want to be the best of the best, maybe you should consider the skiing program at Bates College. Offering one of the most consistently successful programs, Bates will help you to ski your way all the way to the top. Bates College has been rated in the nation's top 20 for the last 5 years and counting!
Recruiting for a Skiing Scholarship
With the increasing interest in Skiing scholarships both on the home front and from International students, it is very important to market yourself. You may be the very best skier in your area, but if the college coaches don't hear of you, they will never approach or award you a scholarship for skiing.
You can either market yourself by completing an athletic profile and submitting it and any other materials (such as videos of your best meets), or you can choose to hire a recruiting service. The service can really help to lighten the load and it will allow you to focus on your education and sport while they concentrate on getting your face out there amongst the many skiing coaches.
Long Story Short
If you feel that you are a talented high school skier, you could earn yourself a skiing scholarship. Only the best of the best will be awarded a scholarship (whether full ride, partial or walk-on), so you want to make sure your skills are up to par when the coaches start to look at you.