Hi, I was recruited by Northeastern to run for their track team and I thought that automatically implied an athletic scholarship. In my financial aid package, they gave me about 43,000 in academic aid but I got noting for an athletic scholarship. I’m just wondering, is that because I received so much in academic aid? It leaves about 14,000 U.S. for to pay, 12,000 if I do work study. I’m wondering maybe this is blessing in disguise but does this mean I’m not bound to the team. Like could I quit without it hurting my academic scholarship? What kind of experience have you had with this kind of thing? Any help would be appreciated.
Based on what you have shared, you are interpreting the offer correctly. Being recruited does not always mean you will receive athletic money. Athletic money is typically awarded separately and can be given, if at all, in addition to academic money. There is very little athletic scholarship money in track. The coach is recruiting you to pick their school vs. another. He/she is trying to get the best roster within their budget and it will be a mix of athletes who get in on their own and pay full price to attend, needed the coach to help them get in, are on some type of academic scholarship and those who need athletic money to be able to afford the school.
If you receive athletic money however, you are normally asked to sign an NLI and an additional financial agreement. Coaches can always offer athletic money in addition to academic, but if the schools award letter does not include any reference to other aid and already has the option of work study called out, it seems unlikely that there is any additional scholarship money coming. You do need to verify where the work study job comes from, make sure it is not an “athlete only” job that was arranged by the coach, if so, that may have a commitment to the team.
Your academic money probably comes with a minimum GPA requirement and some stipulations about progress toward a degree, but is not dependent on remaining on the team. The terms of your academic scholarship and its yearly renewal, should be clearly called out somewhere, if not in that letter, at least on the school website. You likely earned that award based on your HS GPA and test scores or it is need based. Even if the coach helped you get admitted, unless you are given athletic money, you do not have to remain on the team to keep it. This is one of the advantages of getting academic money, if you find that being on the team doesn’t work out or is too much, you can leave or take a semester of competition off. Once you accept athletic money, however, you are not “free to go” in the same way.
Did the school send you an National Letter of Intent to sign? That is the official commitment letter for athletic scholarship money that all schools send.
BTW - Being recruited to an athletic team does not in any way imply athletic money. Any athletic money should be a specific negotiation.
Thank you so much, you were very helpful
No, they did not send me an NLI, I now know that I won’t be receiving athletic scholarship and therefore don’t need to sign in,