Gymnastics Scholarships

[teri101]

Hello,
I'm a level 8/9 gymnast and i have been doing gymnastics for 11 years. this is my life. i'm an honors student at a charter school and i'm trying to find out if i can get a college gymnastics scholarship. You see, i've been out on injury and back in and out again for a while (2-3 years) and i've had broken and bruised and messed up ankles, knees, back, and wrists and i was put on crutches for 8 months straight; finally, i gave up going to the doctors. i went back to gymnastics and started everything where i left off and then went back to the doctors from a reoccuring gymnastics shoulder injury. after i had competed two meets on my broken ankle, i had tried really hard to get back to where i was before... then i found out i needed surgery on my shoulders. Because of the surgery i got and restrictions that came with it, i am not physically able to do bars or beam anymore. i still REALLY want a gymnastics scholarship to the U of U and my real question here is: Can you get a full-ride gymnastics scholarship when you can only work on and compete in two events? please answer me with your best knowledge. This is a question that i've been worried about for a while and I'd really like to know the answer before i make any future decisions on my gymnastics career. Please help! Luv you all!

 

[bookworm]

If by "U of U" you mean University of Utah, I would say that it would be a stretch (and probably unlikely) to get a full ride there doing only two events at Level 8/9...

 

[LizzieLac]

I don't know a lot about college gymnastics since my DD is only 10, but our gym has had some girls go on to college gymnastics (even on scholarship). What I heard about this topic from their experience is that some college's may recruit an "event specialist" if it helps fill gaps on their team. I don't know how often that happens, however.

 

[bookworm]

My daughter is in the midst of the recruiting process now and what college coaches have told us is that they always recruit for an All Arounder and they may end up as a specialist in the future depending on the needs of the team but initially they look for the gymnasts to be able to contribute on all 4 events.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

My daughter is in the midst of the recruiting process now and what college coaches have told us is that they always recruit for an All Arounder and they may end up as a specialist in the future depending on the needs of the team but initially they look for the gymnasts to be able to contribute on all 4 events.

this is correct.

 

[teri101]

Reply

thanks for the information. i'd actually like to clarify a few things. When i say U of U i do mean University of Utah and i'm a level 8/9 gymnast right now. i still have 4 years until college so i will be in a higher level; however, i will never be able to do bars or beam anymore. I'd like to know if i could still get the scholarship if i competed college level on floor and vault and specialized on those two events only... please reply! thank you!

 

[teri101]

thanks for your help everyone!

 

[bookworm]

My daughter is in the midst of the recruiting process now and what college coaches have told us is that they always recruit for an All Arounder and they may end up as a specialist in the future depending on the needs of the team but initially they look for the gymnasts to be able to contribute on all 4 events.

thanks for the information. i'd actually like to clarify a few things. When i say U of U i do mean University of Utah and i'm a level 8/9 gymnast right now. i still have 4 years until college so i will be in a higher level; however, i will never be able to do bars or beam anymore. I'd like to know if i could still get the scholarship if i competed college level on floor and vault and specialized on those two events only... please reply! thank you!

Like I said before, they are looking for someone to be able to contribute in all 4 events so I'd say the chances of a scholarship for 2 events is doubtful...and especially at a school with the caliber of gymnasts as Utah, I would imagine that they are looking for the All Arounder.

You could still look into DOING gymnastics in college at a D2 or D3 or club team and pursuing academic or need based money for school.

 

[teri101]

What do you mean "at a D2 or D3"?
thanks

 

[bookworm]

Division 2 or Division 3 schools..

 

[teri101]

what kind of schools are those? sorry for your trouble, i just would really like some help

 

[coachmolly]

Here is a list of all of the Division 1 & 2 programs along with links to their websites:
Women's Division I & II Team Sites
And a list of all of the Division 3 programs:
Women's Division III Team Sites

 

[teri101]

thanks so much for your help. I'll be sure to check it out... hey do any of you know if you can get a college scholarship for power-tumbling?

 

[coachmolly]

You asked that in a separate thread:
http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/question-answer/30951-scholarships-power-tumbling.html

 

[Deleted member D3987]

thanks so much for your help. I'll be sure to check it out... hey do any of you know if you can get a college scholarship for power-tumbling?

no means no.

 

[CoachGoofy]

thanks so much for your help. I'll be sure to check it out... hey do any of you know if you can get a college scholarship for power-tumbling?

Surely can't.

You can get one for doing well in school, though.

 

[Crystalflipz]

D3 schools do not give athletic scholarships, but they do give academic scholarships, which could give you the best of both worlds in terms of school and gymnastics. Also, given your history of injuries it would mean that any scholarship money would not remain dependent on your staying healthy. Caileigh, my DD, is a freshman at a D3 school this year on a 50% academic scholarship that is automatically renewed every year that she keeps above a 2.79 GPA. She competed as a L8 for 4 years, with more than her share of injuries during that time, and since getting to college has broken her ankle. Right now we are really relieved she is not dependent on an athletic scholarship. Good luck to you, where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[bribri514]

If you're a good tumbler you could look into cheerleading. Some programs do give scholarships for that, and the best cheerleaders have extensive gymnastics background. You wouldn't have to worry about getting all your events to L10 standards, but you'd probably want to join a team to see if you like it.

The other suggestions about looking into academic scholarships (or private scholarships through organizations in your town, or across the country, ask your counselor I bet they have a HUGE list), and then going to a school with a good D2 or D3 or club team are really good ideas too!

Good luck!

 

[10.0]

I think I get where you are coming from. You feel like you have worked really hard at something and you think you should be rewarded for it. Am I correct? Not to say the countless hours in the gym and reaching the level you have coupled with the injuries you have sustained are worth nothing but it just might not be your ticket to college.

Even if everything went perfectly from now on your chances of securing a college scholarship are low. Trying to reply on what your body can do isn't a good idea. It is a lot different than other college sports, you would have a much better chance as a football player.

Most of the gymnasts that get a scholarship didn't set out just to do that and had a back up plan. You are young enough still that I would honestly suggest you focus really hard on academics. Your chances of getting a scholarship from that is much higher than gymnatics and you will be better off for it, knowledge lasts a lifetime, your bodies ability to do gymnastics is limited and if you toss all your eggs in that basket you are bound to be dissapointed.

And no there are no scholarships avalible for power tumbling as no schools have tumbling or T&T programs. Your ability to power tumble would be about as useful to them as your ability to tie your shoes.

 

[teri101]

Thanks for your comment. I actually wanted to learn more about the gymnastics scholarships for a back-up plan from my acedemics. I go to a Prep school and I've got a 4.0 GPA average and acedemic scholarships are my plan. However, the reason I was looking into gymnastics scholarships was for me to make a decision on whether or not I would stay in gymnastics much longer. Things aren't working out so far, so I'll probably go into something else. Thank you for letting me know about the tumbling also. It was a ton of help.