Would you like to play sports in college?

Below are organizations that provide intercollegiate athletic scholarships and programs to support athletes during their time at a college or university.

NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), an organization in the United States that administers intercollegiate athletics. It was formed in 1906 as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association to draw up competition and eligibility rules for football and other intercollegiate sports. Provides world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being. 

NAIA - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs dedicated to championships in balance with the overall college educational experience.   

NJCAA - National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), The NJCAA governs intercollegiate athletics for community colleges and junior colleges; 2-year colleges which offer associate degrees before a student transfers to a 4-year university and completes an undergraduate degree. It is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States.

Click here for the differences between the three.

For more information, contact your campus College Counselor.

1. Comply a list of schools you would like to attend.

   1. Research those schools for admission requirements.

   2. Note the application deadlines. Early admission deadlines are usually November 1st and December 1st.

2. If you haven't already, take a college entrance exam.

3. Begin brainstorming ideas; creating an outline; and writing a first draft of your personal statement.  This personal statement will be used to tell more about you beyond your transcript.  Don't forget to have others review it for spelling and grammar errors.

4. Start to request letters of recommendation.  You want to ask someone who will write the best letter about you.  Give them a brag sheet, or details about yourself that they might not know.  You will want a teacher, counselor, principal, church member, volunteer leader, or a neighbor to write your letter.

5. You are now ready to fill out your college applications.

   1. Check with the college for their preferred application system.

   2. Commonly used platforms: ApplyTexas, Common App, Coalition for College, Universal College Application.

6. Gather documents needed to complete the application:

   • transcripts

   • report card

   • year schedule

   • extracurricular activities

   • volunteer hours

   • letters of recommendations

   • any honors you have received

7. Double, and triple check....then hit SUBMIT!

How do I acquire college credits while still in high school?

Advanced Placement (AP) - The AP Program allows students to take college-level courses and the related AP exam, to potentially earn college credit while still in high school. AP courses allow you to get familiar with college-level rigor and boost your confidence in academics.  It offers opportunities to gain skills such as time management, critical thinking, and scholarly writing.

Dual Credit (DC) - Dual Credit allows students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit by successfully completing Lone Star College (LSC) courses. 

OnRamps (coming soon) - OnRamps allows students to earn high school, and potentially earn college credit while still in high school, by taking courses designed by the University of Texas and completing a specialized, college-level curriculum.  OnRamps one-pager

Which one is best for me?    

What are college entrance exams?

College entrance exams are an important part of the college admissions process. These standardized tests help schools evaluate applicants from a variety of educational backgrounds. It also tests the student on their academic skills such as reading, writing, and math. Some colleges do require test scores for college admission, but more and more colleges are opting not to require test scores to be admitted.  Check with your intended college for their admissions and testing requirements.

ACT -  American College Test  - The ACT has four sections of multiple-choice questions (English, Math, Reading, and Science) plus an optional Writing section. The exam itself is 2 hours and 55 minutes or 3 hours 35 minutes with the Writing section. Each section is scored on a 1-36 scale. Your composite score is an average of the four sections with the highest score being 36. The highest score possible in the writing section is 12. The optional writing section does not impact the composite score.

PreACT 

ACT Test Dates  

ACT Test Accommodations  

SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test - The SAT is a standardized test that aims to measure students' knowledge of math, reading, and writing, as well as their college readiness.  There are two main sections of the SAT. You will earn a score from 200-800 for each section and your total score will be from 400 to 1600. It is based on two sections:  Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math. 

PSAT/NMSQT

SAT Test Dates

SAT Test Accommodations

TSIA2 - The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2) is the state-mandated placement test (Texas Education Code §51.3062) that Texas public institutions must use to determine a student's readiness for college-level courses. 

TSIA2 Test Dates

TSIA Test Accommodations

TSIA Exemptions

Be sure to select "Request a Fee Waiver" for the University/College you are applying to on ApplyTexas, Common APP, or any other college application platform.

Download this pdf and fill out your portion.

Remember to create separate documents for each university you are applying to!

Then save the document with the changes made. (Name the Document after each university it is being used for)

Upload your document to your University/College Student Portal OR you can choose to email, mail, or fax the document to the college admissions office(s). 

Only send this fee waiver to the schools or universities that ask for it! Many schools such as (UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, etc) automatically waive fees based on your financial aid application and/or the High School you attend. (Another reason to complete your FAFSA/TASFA ASAP!)