How do you get a Gymnastics Scholarship?

[matthewmovement]

I'm almost seventeen. I'm a Junior in High School and only recently started gymnastics. My coach thinks that I will be competing as a level 8 by summer(We are progressing as quickly as we can, while being safe of course).

At that rate I will probably not be a level 10 by the time I graduate from High School.

This being said it seems impossible for me to get a Gymnastic Scholarship right out of High School. But, possibly after taking an extra year between HS and College I might have a chance.


However, my main question is, how does a gymnast apply for a Gymnastic Scholarship? Does the college have to approach you first?

If anyone can shed light onto this subject it would be greatly appreciated.

Warning: This is an Old Thread This discussion is older than 30 days. Information contained in it may no longer be current. Before you reply, please make sure you will be adding useful information to the thread and not just bringing back an old conversation. Feel free to start a new thread so we can have an updated conversation on the topic. If you feel the thread should be reopened for discussion...please contact a moderator.

[gymdog]

This is a complicated issue, but to answer your questions simply, the college does not have to approach you. Also, many athletes on NCAA gymnastics teams don't have scholarships, they are called "walk ons." There are some NCAA men's gymnastics that don't have any scholarships or full scholarship. For 99% of people, I think it's probably going to be easier to get merit aid for academics or something other than athletics - there's just more of it and much of it requires less of an "unusual elite ability" if you will. Some NCAA athletics are at schools where they qualify for tuition breaks as a result of their high school academic performance, or they have outside scholarships which are given based on a variety of traits.

You may have a chance at making an NCAA team by focusing a lot of effort on your best events to bring them up to a competitive level, since teams often have "specialists" who don't do all around. I am really more familiar with womens gymnastics though.

[matthewmovement]

Thanks gymdog.

My main concern is the price of a college with a gymnastic program. Nowadays there are very few colleges with a MAG team. So far all of them that I have looked into are very, very expensive. I do qualify for some academic scholarships; however, none of them offset the price of going to a college with MAG.

[grizzoline]

I'd say just try it. Maybe don't go for the best teams out there, talk to the coaches, show them how much you have learned and how bad you want it. Maybe you'll have to pay the first year out of your own pocket but there's always a chance to get a scholarship later on. Basically, you're a unique case, you're obviously impressive (because you seem to be learning REALLY fast) - you should fight the hell for it. It might work, it might not. But you should try it.

[gymdog]

Thanks gymdog.

My main concern is the price of a college with a gymnastic program. Nowadays there are very few colleges with a MAG team. So far all of them that I have looked into are very, very expensive. I do qualify for some academic scholarships; however, none of them offset the price of going to a college with MAG.

I would investigate their need-based financial aid programs. You will need to fill out the FAFSA, which will evaluate your family's "expected contribution" based on income and other factors. Many colleges use this for need-based aid. Often, the same family will get different offers at different colleges. It just depends on the program and how things are calculated. If you look at the websites for the colleges you are interested in, they may have "quick calculators" or charts that you can use as an estimate. Beware, I know many people who these have given an inaccurate estimate for a variety of reasons, but it may at least help you familiarize yourself with the programs.

There are two kinds of aid, merit and need based, and you may qualify for both. It is great that you are starting to think about this now. There are also a lot of local scholarships you can apply to, these are often small but may help offset costs if you can get several.

[matthewmovement]

Thanks grizzoline! I haven't really had many people believe that I even have a chance. Much less people giving me such strong encouragement. It means a lot.

I talked to my coach tonight and he says that he might let me come in for a little extra practice each week. He thinks that I will most likely only make it on a practice team for at least my first semester and probably first year of college.

@ Gymdog, thanks for all of the advice. I have looked at a lot of academic scholarships. If I can keep my grades above a 3.7 this semester and next year I will qualify for most colleges Presidential Scholarship(fingers crossed). My parents are not too supportive of me doing gymnastics and don't really want me to go to college for gymnastics. They are also putting my sister through college.


I'll be talking to my counselors at school.


Thanks again for your help and support.

[gymkat]

Have you looked into NAIGC (college club) at all? There aren't any scholarships through this, but as gymdog said, most people have a better shot at academic scholarships than gymnastics scholarships.

[Gymnasticgrandkids]

I believe that the college scouts come to your gym if your gym is one that is considered to have high quality gymnasts. Scouts from Ohio State, Penn State and Utah were at our gymnastics facility a couple of weeks ago and were scouting two gymnasts that are juniors in high school. Apparently you have to be 16 to be "legally" scouted....I have also read online that a good way to get noticed is to attend a summer camp held by the college you would like to attend and hope they notice you.

[bribri514]

i'm going to utah state next year to train with their gymnastics team. i was a level 10 gymnast and JO nationals qualifier before i quit for two years because of family and other problems, to do cheer. my cheer coach sent out videos of me doing an individual routine that included E level skills in my tumbling passes. the cheer coach thought that their program may not be best for me (very music focused) and showed the tape to their gym coach. they couldn't offer me a full athletic scholarship but they offered me a place to train with the team if i rejoined gym and competed as a level 10 all season with the possibility to compete if everything goes well. they helped me get into school and i've been able to find community and school and other scholarships to pay for everything. it's been a great experience.

so in my experience just keep with gym. coaches don't come to you unless you're at nationals or an elite. have your coach make a tape of you and send it to coaches that have programs in your area or at schools that fit your needs (like if you're really great at academic but just doing level 8/9 maybe send your tape to brown university but not university of georgia, if you want a smaller or bigger school, etc. etc.) coaches cannot contact you until july 1st of your senior year no matter how old you are. but yeah don't wait to get contacted and get disappointed if you don't. it's so hard with all the different gyms and programs out there for coaches to find what they need. just keep working on your skills. e levels skills help. remember some coaches need specialists on events so don't get down in case one school doesn't want you b/c you're a vaulter and not good on beam.

if you have questions maybe i could help. let me know. good luck!!!

[matthewmovement]

Wow. Thanks for the info.

I am actually only a junior but will be graduating this year. Going to a community college near my gym so I can train more often.

Right now I have to commute to practice(40 minutes each way). I have a lot of work to do if I want to be a level ten by next year. But my coach thinks it's possible. I've been told many times that I have more drive than any other gymnast they've trained/met.

I guess it's paying off.

Thanks again. =]