How Can I Earn a Generous Financial Aid Package?
One of the primary reasons that student athletes pursue playing college sports is the potential for enhanced scholarship or financial aid rewards. In order to maximize your potential for a generous reward for your athletic and academic talents, it is important to understand the differences between financial aid at the Division I, II, III level.
Only Division I and II schools can award athletic based scholarships. However, that does not mean that Division III schools do not give generous awards to their top athletes. Instead, Division III financial aid is based strictly on need and academic merit. The size of DIII aid packages can vary greatly depending on how much they want you to join their program. Division III athletes often find themselves able to get into better schools academically than they would be able to get into otherwise.
The single most important part of applying for financial aid is filling out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Schools use this information to determine eligibility for federal aid and whether a student qualifies for any scholarships offered by the school. When planning your financial aid application, remember these few tips.
DO NOT assume that you will not qualify for aid
Complete the filing EARLY
Minimize taxable income where possible
Use a 529 savings plan for any college related savings
Leverage generous aid offers
You may have the opportunity to leverage generous aid offers from certain schools to secure more aid at one of your top choices. Do not think of this process as a negotiation, but do not be afraid to approach your target schools with a counter-package that may work better for your finances.
Applying for financial aid can be a complicated task, thankfully, Beat Sports offers comprehensive guidance for student athletes navigating the process. We specialize in finding innovative ways for athletes to showcase themselves to college coaches. Whether you’re an athlete trying to get recruited, or a coach trying to gain unique exposure for your players or program, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’d love to hear from you.
Dillon Myler
Founder, College Sports Advisor - Beat Sports LLC
contact@dillonmyler.news
908-342-8477