NCAA Eligibility Center

All high school athletes wishing to compete in intercollegiate athletics at a Division I or Division II institution must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.  

Students should register in their junior year of high school. Students must request a transcript to be sent from Student Services at the end of their junior year once final grades are posted.  

There is a $65 fee to register.  If you think you may qualify for a fee waiver, or if you have any questions about this process, please see  your counselor in Student Services. 

1.   Keep your grades up! 

The last grades colleges will see are from junior year, as you will send your applications in before any grades are final senior year. Use tutoring  and stay in contact with your teachers. 

2.    Attendance is important! 

If you are going to be out, let your teachers know and get work ahead of time. Make sure to not miss more than 10 days in any course, or you will need to do recovery after school.

3.    This is the year to take the SAT and ACT. 

You will take the ACT at school in February, and that test is college admissible, so take it seriously! You will need to schedule any other SATs and ACTs independently through www.collegeboard.org (SAT) or www.actstudent.org (ACT). 

4.     Log in to Major Clarity on a regular basis. 

Email your counselor if you need help getting in. Take a look at the Major Clarity website for more ideas on how to use it. Creating a resume is a great way to prepare for college applications. You can coordinate college visits, do career research, and compare college admission statistics.

5. Sign up to attend college information sessions! 

 More than 60 colleges visit our school. Juniors and seniors are each eligible to sign up for up  visits each year. 

6.      Visit college campuses.

 Campus visits can make such a big difference in deciding whether you want to apply to a college or not. Take a look at the ALB calendar so you can plan your visits to minimize absences. Always take an official tour if you can.

7.     Stay involved! 

Participating in clubs, playing sports, working a part-time job, or volunteering in the community shows colleges that you can balance your time between academics and extra-curriculars.  Taking on a leadership role is always a great idea. It is not important to be involved in a lot of different clubs and groups, but it is important to be significantly involved in a few.

8.     Begin thinking about ways to pay for college. 

There are a variety of scholarships available to students, through organizations or individual colleges. Most colleges will offer a financial aid package to applicants to help cover the cost of post-secondary application. Look over the Financial Aid Information tab on the Student Services website and take a look at the scholarship listings in Major Clarity so that you have an idea of what you can apply for next year. Talk to your parents about their thoughts on paying for college!

9.     Take advantage of programming at school. 

There will be multiple informational night events throughout the year, including Financial Aid, Testing Information, and the College and Career sessions. Pay attention to the announcements for dates and times, as well as other great opportunities.

10.     Look out for your junior meetings! 

This is your chance to sit down with you counselor plan and discuss the college application process for senior year. Students who meet with their counselor as juniors are much more prepared and organized for their senior year.

11.     Plan to use your summer time wisely! 

You can do work in the summer to prepare for a busy fall season. Many college applications open in August, so you can create your accounts and begin the applications, as well as work on essays, finalize your list of applications, and search for scholarships before school even starts.