Not all scholarships are created equal. A full-ride scholarship will cover all of your tuition, fees, and room and board, while partial athletic scholarships will only cover part of the total cost of attending school. While a partial ride is still an amazing accomplishment and a significant amount of money, you are going to need to come up with the funds to make up the difference. Here are five primary ways that you can help to bridge the gap:

EXISTING COLLEGE FUNDS:

If you have planned ahead and saved for college not knowing if you would be awarded an athletic scholarship, now is the time to dig into these funds. Combining your existing college funds with what the school offers you for an athletic scholarship will often be enough to pay for your entire education.

GRANTS:

Grants are monetary gifts that are not designed to be repaid. This type of aid can come from a variety of sources, including the government, your college, trusts, or corporations. The school's endowment fund is a good place to start your search for a grant that fits your monetary needs. Because grants do not have to be repaid, it is basically free money. There are limited amounts of grant money available to qualified students, so be sure to start your search early

LOANS:

The majority of student-athletes are eligible to apply for federal student loans. A federal loan usually has a lower interest rate than a private loan and does not require that the student submit a credit report. Private loans are also an option if you can secure favorable terms.

WORK-STUDY FUNDS:

Federal work-study programs help college students earn money to pay for their educational expenses. Not only is this an ideal way to earn extra money, but it also looks great on your resume. There is a myriad of jobs for work-study funds available, both on campus and off.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS:

An academic award can be combined with athletic scholarships to help you to arrive at the total cost of attending college. Like everything with the NCAA, there are rules in place to make sure that this policy is not abused. If you believe that your grades have put you in the position to receive this type of aid, be sure to run the numbers by your school compliance officers.

It should be noted that college student-athletes need to be extra cautious about where they acquire the additional funds needed for their college experience. You need to be careful that you do not accept unauthorized funding that will get you into trouble with the NCAA or your university's own compliance department. Be sure to run any ideas by your compliance officer to make sure that what you are doing to earn extra money is legal and endorsed by the NCAA.

Advantages of Playing NCAA I Sports

Every year millions of high school student-athletes are jockeying to put themselves in the position to be competitive for a coveted Division I NCAA scholarship. The reason for this intense competition can be traced back to the many advantages that come with being offered a scholarship by one of the 347 Division I schools. In addition to being able to continue competing in the sport that you love, there is a bevy of inherent advantages that come with continuing your athletic career at the college level. Here are just a few of the benefits that come with playing sports at the Division I level:

Free or Reduced Cost College Education - The biggest benefit of being awarded an NCAA Division I scholarship is the opportunity that it affords to receive a college education at little to no cost. There are varying levels of scholarships ranging from full rides to partial amounts, making it important that you understand what kind of scholarship you have been offered.

Access to Academic Services - Student-athletes who have received athletic scholarships to NCAA Division I schools are automatically at an advantage when it comes to academic opportunities. Many schools offer a wide array of services designed to help their student-athletes succeed in the classroom. Examples of these services include private tutoring, study hall access, and visits with guidance counselors.

Chance to Travel - One of the most appreciated benefits offered to student-athletes at the NCAA Division I level is the chance to travel around the country and sometimes even the world. You will go where the competition is, allowing you to see a host of diverse places along the way. While most of the travel is not glamorous, many teams try to work in time to sight-see while on their trips.

Lasting Relationships - Competing with the same group people year in and year out naturally means that you will begin to develop lasting bonds. The relationships that you build with your teammates, coaches, and administrators will stay with you for a lifetime. Learning to deal with different personality types in a close setting will also provide you with invaluable life skills as you progress through your adult relationships.

Future Job Prospects Increased - Competing at the NCAA Division I level looks great on a college resume. Business leaders have high respect for student-athletes who have demonstrated that they can successfully balance the rigors of their studies with their team commitments. Being involved in college athletics will also provide you with connections and networking opportunities that may prove useful as you advance through your career.

Because of the late timing of the playing season as compared to other college sports, baseball recruiting is in a unique position because college coaches must really look ahead to fill out their roster. Unlike many other sports, high school baseball is played during the spring season. This means that by the time the student-athlete is a senior, the college coaches have most likely offered all of their available scholarships.

High-profile schools such as those in the Power 5 conferences may even have their recruiting classes set by the high school sophomore year, making the freshman year an imperative season for many top-notch recruits. Many college baseball coaches take verbal commitments from athletes as young as sophomores.

For most high school baseball athletes, the senior year is way too late to start the recruiting process. If your goal is to play college baseball, you will need to submit your college applications prior to the start of your senior season. Because of the time-sensitive nature of baseball recruiting, it is important to use the results of your freshman season to generate your target list for scholarship offers, regardless of whether you have college scouts and recruiters at your games.