Oct. 27, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State Athletics Compliance Office, in conjunction with the ISU Office of Admissions and Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), is proud to announce that it will once again be conducting the "So You Want to be a College Student-Athlete?" seminar on Sunday, November 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bone Student Center Ballroom.
The seminar serves as a perfect opportunity for high school student-athletes who think they have what it takes to compete at the next level, coaches, parents, athletics directors and guidance counselors to learn about NCAA initial-eligibility requirements for Division I and II schools from the ISU staff.
"This event had a great turnout last year," Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance Cindy Harris said. "I was extremely pleased with the number of people that came out. And the feedback we received about it was very positive. Considering both of those things, together with the fact that the information in the session is still so valuable to so many folks, we decided to offer the presentation again this year."
Topics that will be covered in the presentation include NCAA core courses, core grade point average, test scores (ACT and SAT), registering for the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, process and timing of applying for admissions to college, official visits, strategies and perspectives on improving test scores and what it is really like to be a college student-athlete.
For any prospective student-athlete, admission and compliance requirements are always a bit of a mystery. In effort to better inform the public on those subjects, the evening will also feature presentations by Molly Arnold, ISU Director of Admissions, and Harris, on initial-eligibility requirements.
"The NCAA adopted an increase in initial-eligibility standards three years ago that will be effective in the fall of 2008 (an increase from 14 to 16 core courses)," Harris said. "Unfortunately, that message hasn't been adequately received - or understood, honestly - by many high school student-athletes, their parents, guidance counselors and coaches. We take a number of calls each day in the Compliance Office from people who just don't understand what the changes all are. Failing to meet them (the changes) can have profound consequences on the futures of the student-athletes."
The evening will conclude with the unique chance to be able to hear what it is like to be a collegiate student-athlete first hand from those that live the experience. Representatives from select ISU athletics teams will be on hand to participate in a question and answer panel with those in attendance.
"We want to do whatever we can to get the message out there to as many of our local student-athletes, coaches, parents, guidance counselors and athletics directors that this is a valuable session," said Harris. "We work hard to put together a program that is informative, spirited and fun. For instance, the panel discussion with ISU's Director of Admission's Molly Arnold serving as moderator with our current Redbird student-athletes was a big hit last year."
Parking for the event will be free at the Bone Student Center Visitor Parking Lot. For information please contact Harris at (309) 438-2677 or e-mail her at caharri@ilstu.edu.
