Get involved in student government, leadership camps, local community groups, student exchange programs etc. These activities are a big plus when it comes to the awarding of athletic grants in aid.

3. Sophomore Year.

Check out the NCAA Academic Requirements. Make sure you are on track. You might be the best soccer player on earth but if you don't meet the NCAA Academic Requirements you don't play. It's that simple. Make sure you are on track in relation to "core requirements".

Stay involved with your local sports team, your sports achievements here could be the key to getting noticed by college scouts.

Make a list of the colleges you would like to attend and send an introduction letter to the coaches at those colleges, Include updates of your sporting and academic achievements. At the end of your sophomore year send a further update to these coaches.

Now is the time to monitor the academic entrance requirements of the colleges you wish to attend.

Prepare a videotape that includes game footage, basic skills and drills and personal highlights if possible. Coaches want to see how you perform as part of a team, don't just prepare a "highlights" tape.

You know you want to go to college; maybe you even have a couple of colleges in mind. If you want to play sports in college, you'll need to assess your abilities.

Notre Dame College is rated Third in diversity among Midwest liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

Timeline continued.