Just a short time ago, you were a high school senior. You were at the top of the class and at the top of your game.  You were the best, the elite, the one blessed with extraordinary talents and skills, and, most importantly, the one chosen to play at the next level. Now you are a college freshman experiencing all of the fears, anxieties, and excitement that come with being a rookie: the new kid on the team. You have been running, lifting weights, playing in summer leagues and doing whatever it takes to sharpen and refine your skills. You have been dreaming for this moment – soon you will have the opportunity to show others what you can do and are capable of doing, then the reality sets in.  You realize that college is not only just about athletics. College is also about studying for exams, writing research papers, attending lectures, making speeches, and taking part in campus activities.

Athletic participation, at any level, is a very demanding activity.  As a student-athlete you will be challenged physically, emotionally, and intellectually. However, there are several ways you can help yourself achieve success in the classroom and in your sport.  The following tips have been useful to not only student-athletes, but to all students as well. 

Time Management 

Perhaps, the most important adjustment you will have to make is balancing your time. You will probably attend classes at least 15 hours a week. If you study the recommended two hours for each credit hour of class, then you will study at least 30 hours per week.. Also, you need to add approximately 20 hours of practice time per week to your schedule. Thus, you have already committed at least 65 hours to your classes and sport.

Of course, you will want to have a social life, so you have to schedule some time for hanging out with friends. These are just a few of the most important activities that you will have to make time for. Consequently, it is important for you to develop a regular schedule of activities and, more importantly, follow it!

Campus Resources

Many colleges and universities offer a variety of academic support services, for example, writing centers, study skills support, tutorial services, and counseling and career development offices. It is important that you find out where they are located.  These offices and support services are valuable resources.  If you use them, then you will have a smoother transition into the college environment while simultaneously improving your chances of graduating from college.

Class Attendance

The first suggestion in this category is that you must attend all of your classes. Even if the instructor allows class absences or doesn't take attendance, it is to your advantage to attend class.  Many students end up missing a class only to find the material they missed on the exam. More importantly, because you are an athlete, you have to be mindful of the "dumb jock" stereotype.  This negative generalization of athletes works against your academic success in the classroom.  Therefore, you have to do all that you can to demonstrate to your professors that you are a conscientious and dedicated student.

Class Participation

Once you are in class, sit in the front row or as close to the front as possible.  Do not sit in the back of the class.  Also, be prepared to respond to the questions that the instructor may ask. Also, ask at least one question each class session. By actively participating in class, the professor knows that you are keeping up with the assigned readings. Additionally, many faculty members will take your class participation into account when they are calculating your final grade. Thus, you do not want to miss out on the class participation points; they can be the difference between an A or a B in the class.

Get to Know Your Professors

Talk to you professors after class or during their office hours. Professors really do enjoy talking about the class lectures and related subject areas. You can even use e-mail to forward your thoughts and opinions to the professor.  Also, once you develop a rapport with your professors, they are usually more willing to write you letters of recommendation for scholarships, awards, employment, and graduate school.

These are just a few tips that will help you become successful in the classroom.  There are also three hints that can help you become a letter-winner in your sport. They are as follows:

Be Mentally Prepared

Intercollegiate athletics, particularly at the Division 1 level, is a lot different than high school because the stakes are much higher. The student-athletes who are inserted into the lineup are the ones who usually make the fewest mental errors.  Therefore, the same degree of concentration and mental preparation that you utilize to make the grade in the classroom must be carried over into your sport.  Usually, the ability to focus and properly execute the task before you is what will separate the players from the non-players.

Be Successful in the Classroom

As more pressure is placed upon college coaches to retain and graduate more of their student-athletes, the more reliant they are upon academically sound students. The less the head coaches have to worry about your academic success, the greater your chances are of becoming a letter-winner.  More importantly, I inform all of our student-athletes that "you have to stay in order to play."  You will have to work hard to achieve the academic requirements of your institution and the governing body of your conference.

Work Hard

There are many success stories of student-athletes overcoming obstacles and beating the odds on their road to success and fame. For certain, there is no substitute for hard work. Serena and Venus Williams, Michael Jordan Wilma Rudolph, Gail Devers, and Spud Webb all defy the typical route to becoming a superstar. They had to overcome physical, societal and personal obstacles, among others, on the road to success. What they have in common is the will to excel. Throughout your academic and athletic career, you will find that the cornerstone of success is hard work.

In conclusion, as a college athlete, you will find college to be very exciting and challenging. You will experience the emotional ups and downs that go along with success and failure. This is normal so don't be discouraged. If you follow the winning tips that I have identified, then you are on the road to a very rewarding and gratifying collegiate experience.  Enjoy your years in college for they will be some of the best years of your life.

Jack Taylor is the interim director, Athletic Academic Affairs, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Bowling Green State University.