By Tom Kowalski
NFL Continuing Education Consultant
For years now, the first leaves falling off the tree mean football to all current and former players. There will be a season, playoffs, for some the Super Bowl, and then the offseason begins. Once the schedule is complete, many players wish to become students. It makes great sense – earning a college degree or pursuing graduate studies is a sure way to secure your post football future.
If you are interested in attending school during the offseason, there are a few simple steps that need to be taken now to assure both current and former players that they will have the opportunity to enroll in either the spring term or a summer session.
Current and former players who plan on attending school should follow these guidelines:
- Complete the Prospect Interest and Transcript Release Forms and submit them to NFL Player Engagement.
- Once the information release form is complete, NFL Player Engagement has the permission to talk on your behalf to develop a continuing education plan for the upcoming offseason. To develop that plan, we need to know if you plan to return to your original institution, would rather take classes in your franchise city, or discuss distance learning and online class opportunities.
- The time to begin this process is now. Players who are interested in enrolling in school need to complete their applications (or readmission forms) by the end of October or early November. Most registrations will take place in early to mid-November. Understand that if you left your college or university on academic probation or suspension, those issues are often resolved through the Dean’s office but may require additional time and supplemental application materials.
- Many players and former players have internships remaining to fulfill their degree requirements. Internships require coordination between the Director of Player Engagement, NFL Player Engagement staff, internship coordinators, and academic advisors. If you are interested in seeking an internship for credit, this process must be in motion by November 1, 2012.
- NFL Player Engagement will deliver an options worksheet to each potential student who completes an information release form. On the options worksheet will include a section titled “Next Steps,” providing information and dates required for applying (or reapplying) as well as registration and enrollment dates. Colleges and Universities often require many forms. Most are available online. Please complete each form that a school requires by the required deadline.
- Current and former players who wish to attend graduate schools will likely take additional time to complete the application based on the graduate application itself, which often requires answers to essay questions, a professional resume, letters of recommendation, and usually a graduate test score from either the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). For more information, contact NFL Player Engagement.
Today would be a great day to begin chasing your educational goals.