| High school student-athletes sometimes say they | | | | What all this means is that in choosing your college, |
| dream of playing professional sports after college. | | | | getting an education should be your top priority. Your |
| These kids usually are high school students who | | | | first instinct might be to go wherever you can get an |
| haven't even applied to college yet. They are often | | | | athletic scholarship and play your sport, but you need |
| highly regarded prep athletes in their school and | | | | to look at the entire picture. For most of you, |
| community, but playing at the college level is still in | | | | according to NCAA president, Myles Brand, "Your |
| the future. | | | | years in college will most likely be the peak of your |
| Now, I'm not one to squash anyone's dreams. We all | | | | athletic experience. A college degree, however, lasts |
| know of pros who were college sports standouts, | | | | a lifetime. So go for the education first." |
| following stellar careers in high school. But, according | | | | So, approach your college search by making a list of |
| to the National College Athletic Association, the | | | | the colleges that best meet your academic |
| percentage of NCAA student-athletes who become | | | | requirements and then narrow your focus to schools |
| professional athletes is miniscule. | | | | that offer scholarships in your sport. In that way you |
| See the stats: men's basketball-1.2%; women's | | | | will have the best chance of getting into a college |
| basketball-1.0%; football-1.8%; men's ice | | | | that's right for you, play your sport and graduate |
| hockey-3.7%; men's soccer-1.7%. Baseball has the | | | | with a future...it might even be in professional sports! |
| highest odds at 9.4%. | | | | |