Information for the
College-Bound
Student-Athlete
What is NJSIAA?
New Jersey State Interscholastic
Athletic Association
• Governing body that provides eligibility
requirements for high school students
• To be eligible for:
– FALL AND WINTER SPORTS: You must have accrued
27.5 credits from the PREVIOUS year
– SPRING SPORTS: You must have accrued 13.75
credits by MID-YEAR
• IF YOU FAIL 2 full-year courses (10 cr.) YOU
MUST ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOL for at least
ONE make-up course to be eligible for FALL
sports.
• IF YOU ARE FAILING 1 full-year course
AND HAVE FAILED a half-year course at
mid-year
OR
IF YOU ARE FAILING 2 full-year courses at
mid-year, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for SPRING sports.
What is the NCAA?
National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Develops rules and guidelines for athletic
eligibility and competition in Division I and II
schools
NCAA Eligibility Center
• Determines student eligibility for athletic
participation in first year of college enrollment
NCAA Schools
• Diversity within Divisions
– Big schools, small schools, different sports
– e.g. Seton Hall vs. Rutgers
• Difference between Divisions
– Mission/Philosophy
– Rules
– Emphasis on competition (i.e. national, regional)
– Athletic scholarships
(DIII does not offer these)
Steps You Must Take to Participate in
NCAA Divisions I or II Athletics
• Juniors:
– During your junior year, register at
www.eligibilitycenter.org and complete the
amateurism questionnaire.
– Register to take the ACT, SAT or both, and use the
Eligibility Center code “9999” as a score recipient.
– Double check to make sure that you are taking courses
that match your high school’s NCAA List of Approved
Core Courses (see your counselor for a list or log on).
Register with the
NCAA Eligibility Center
• Log on to www.eligibilitycenter.org
• $60 – please register with a parent/guardian
• Request that your transcript be sent to NCAA during
your JUNIOR YEAR via Family Connection
– (see your counselor for Family Connection login information)
Complete the Amateurism Questionnaire
• When you register, be sure to complete the
amateurism questionnaire.
• Log in and click on “Enter/Update Amateur
Questionnaire.”
• Answer the questions honestly. Don’t let anyone
else complete this for you.
• Review your amateurism questionnaire responses
and request final amateurism certification during
your senior year (beginning April 1 for fall
enrollees and beginning October 1 for spring
enrollees).
Definition of a Core Course
• Is a high school graduation requirement that includes
the following: English, mathematics, natural or physical
science, social science, foreign language or
nondoctrinal religion or philosophy;
• Is considered four-year college preparatory;
• Is taught at or above the high school's regular
academic level;
• For mathematics courses, is at the level of Algebra I or
a higher level mathematics course; and
• Is taught by a qualified instructor as defined by the
appropriate academic authority.
2009-2010 and beyond:
Foundations courses
WILL NOT COUNT
as core courses.
Division I Requirements
You must:
– Graduate from high school
– Complete these 16 core courses
•
•
•
•
•
•
4 years of English
3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (incl. 1 yr. lab science)
1 extra year of English, math, or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign
language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)
– Earn a minimum required grade-point average in core courses
– Earn a combined SAT or ACT score that matches your core course
GPA and test score sliding scale .
Division I GPA / Test Score Scale
Abbreviated Version:
Core GPA
SAT Score
Sum ACT Score
3.550 & above
400
37
3.250
520
46
3.000
620
52
2.750
720
59
2.500
820
68
2.250
920
77
2.000
1010
86
math & critical reading only
4 subscores
Division II Requirements
You must:
– Graduate from high school
– Complete these 14 core courses
• 3 years of English
• 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• 2 years of natural or physical science (incl. 1 yr. lab
science)
• 2 extra years of English, math, or natural or
physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 3 years of extra core courses (from any category
above, or foreign language, nondoctrinal religion
or philosophy)
– Earn a 2.000 GPA or better in core courses and,
– Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum
score of 68.
– There is no sliding scale in Division II.
Division II Requirements
(Class of 2013 and beyond…)
You must:
– Graduate from high school
– Complete these 16 core courses
● 3 years of English
● 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
● 2 years of natural or physical science (including one
year of lab science if offered by your high school)
● 3 additional years of English, mathematics, or natural/physical science
● 2 years of social science
● 4 years of additional core courses (from any category above, or foreign
language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)
– Earn a 2.000 GPA or better in core courses and,
– Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
– There is no sliding scale in Division II.
Core-Course Requirements
Division III
• (No need to register with NCAA)
• Contact the respective college or university
regarding its policies.
Approved Core Course List
• To obtain your school’s list, log on to
www.eligibilitycenter.org
• Click ‘FALL 2010’
• Click ‘Resources’
• Click ‘U.S. Students’
• Select “List of Approved Core Courses” on the
left-hand side of the screen.
• Follow prompts to select school by name.
Some Electives that are considered
to be Core Courses by NCAA
• Creative Writing
• Advanced Creative
Writing
• Speech/Debate
• Criminal Justice
• Global Issues
• Holocaust & Genocide
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Earth Extremes
Anatomy & Physiology
Forensic Explorations
Marine Biology
Sociology
Psychology
American Issues
AP Microeconomics
Core-Course Grade-Point Average
• Core-Course GPA is calculated on a 4.000 scale
A – 4 points
C – 2 points
B – 3 points
D – 1 point
• No pluses or minuses (A+, A, A- are each 4 pts)
• Based on best course grades
Example
• Semester grade = .50 unit
‘A’ in Psychology = 4.0 X .50 = 2.0
• Full-yr = 1.0 unit
‘A’ in English = 4.0 X 1.0 = 4.0
• Total number of points / total number of completed
core-course units
(depending on the division)
– DI: e.g. 41 pts/16 courses = 2.56
– Check sliding scale with SAT score
Keep in mind…
• Pass/Fail courses can only earn a D (1 pt.)
• If you have attended multiple high schools,
transcripts must be sent from EACH high
school.
• SAT/ACT scores MUST be reported to the
eligibility center directly from the testing
agency. (Code 9999)
• MAINTAIN YOUR WORKSHEET AS YOU
COMPLETE YOUR COURSES!
Students with Disabilities
• Students with disabilities must meet the same
requirements, but are provided certain
accommodations to meet them.
• Please contact the NCAA or your counselor for
additional information.
Additional Information
• Contact information:
– www.eligibilitycenter.org
– (877) 262-1492
– School counselor